§ The Earl of Sandwichasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Amos on 2 March (WA 86–87), what is their latest estimate of emergency food requirements in Ethiopia; what numbers are affected in the various provinces; what is the interval between pledges of emergency food aid to Ethiopia and their delivery (a) to ports and (b) to the areas affected; and which United Kingdom-based non-governmental organisations are active in the areas of food shortage; and of these which have been, or will become, channels of emergency aid during the present crisis. [HL2097]
§ Baroness AmosThe estimate in the Government of Ethiopia's Disaster Prevention and Preparedness246WA Committee's (DPPC) 2000 Annual Appeal in January 2000 was for approximately 900,000 metric tonnes of food aid this year. The UN is planning to launch a regional Greater Horn of Africa Appeal later this month, following the United Nations Secretary General Special Envoy's visit to the region between 11 and 19 April.
The estimated number of beneficiaries expected in 2000 are as follows:
Estimate of 2000 Region 2000 Population Estimate Beneficiaries-drought affected Total Displaced Beneficiaries Total Tigray 3,744,867 1,047,400 315,936 1,363,336 Afar Region 1,236,016 272,704 33,901 306,605 Amhara 16,518,874 2,534,915 — 2,534,915 Orimiya 22,165,467 1,598,246 — 1,598,246 Somali Region 3,758,828 1,321,000 — 1,321,000 Beneshangul 549,812 4,201 — 4,201 SNNPR 12,383,746 852,740 — 852,740 Gambela 175,077 46,600 — 46,600 Harari 156,587 7,070 — 7,070 Diwe Dawa 300,739 47,459 — 47,459 Addis Ababa 2,522,718 — — — Country Total 63,512,731 7,732,335 349,837 8,082,172 Source:
DPPC Annual Appeal, 21 January 2000
Britain's food aid is provided through non-governmental organisations (international NGOs) and the WFP. The length of time between purchase and delivery of food aid depends considerably on where the food is sourced (much is purchased locally and some comes from the in-country food security reserve) and the accessibility of those in need.
We do not maintain records of all the UK based NGOs active in Ethiopia. Details of the emergency interventions we have funded in Ethiopia between June 1999 and April 2000 are outlined in the DFID background briefing on Ethiopia, April 2000, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House. In addition, we are also providing £1 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross to cover food and transport costs and some £1.3 million to Farm Africa for work in Konso.