§ Mr. Andrew F. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimates he now has of crop failure in Ethiopia and of that country's emergency needs for grain and supplies of food; how far those needs are being met by donor countries; and how far grain and supplies of food will be available in the areas where they are most needed.
§ Mr. Chris PattenA Food and Agriculture Organisation assessment mission in December 1987 estimated tht Eritrea had suffered an 80 per cent. main crop failure. In Tigre and Welo regions crop failure was estimated to be over 70 per cent. and in Hararghe 30 per cent.; while parts of other regions, in particular north-eastern Shewa and eastern Gonder, were also seriously affected. Ethiopia's total additional food requirement until the end of 1988 was set at 1.3 million tonnes. Following poor secondary "belg" rains in Welo and northern Shewa in February-March 1988, this overall requirement is likely to be increased by up to 200,000 tonnes.
Donors have pledged over 1 million tonnes of food aid for 1988. Together with food pledged in 1987 but expected to be delivered in 1988, and carry-over stocks, this should be sufficient to meet Ethiopia's needs. However, the recent escalation of civil war in Eritrea and Tigre, and the Ethiopian Government's announcement that most expatriate relief workers must leave these regions, has brought distribution of food to those in need almost to a standstill. The world food programme is now recommending that donors delay food aid shipments due to congestion of the Ethiopian ports.
The situation is extremely serious and a major tragedy is likely if full-scale relief operations cannot be resumed soon. All parties to the conflict will bear a grave responsibility if this occurs. We have consistently called on all concerned to allow secure free passage for relief convoys.