HC Deb 06 January 2003 vol 397 c57W
Mrs. Spelman

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when her Department received information from NGOs warning of the famine in Ethiopia; and which NGOs gave the information. [87074]

Clare Short

[holding answer 16 December 2002]: There are a number of regular forums between Government, donors and NGOs around humanitarian issues in Ethiopia. The UN World Food Programme plays a key role by providing early warning and on-going assessment of needs to donors, Government and NGOs. The DFID Addis office has been closely engaged with these groups.