Mr. Robert G. HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his assessment of the current food situation in Ethiopia.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe food situation in Ethiopia is serious: over 1 million tonnes of food aid is needed to feed people until the next harvest in November. Donors have responded promptly with pledges of food aid which at present total over 600,000 tonnes. Shipments are well under way and will meet requirements for the earlier part of the year. Rebel action in Eritrea and Tigre is severely hampering delivery of this food to those in need.