Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the famine in Ethiopia.[118040]Clare Short: The situation in Ethiopia is serious. Ethiopia is a very poor country with a GDP of $110 per capita. Many Ethiopiansare partially dependent on food aid in most years. This is the third year in succession when the early rains have either failed orbeen poor. Ethiopia has also been engaged in a war with Eritrea since May 1998. The war has disrupted Ethiopia's economic and socialprogress. It has also affected food security by diverting trucking capacity and increasing costs; denying access to the ports ofMassawa and Assab; and denying rural households supplementary income sources in Eritrea and Tigray. As a result, eight millionpeople now face serious food shortages. According to the information we have available, Ethiopia's initial appeal for 758,000MT ofcereals is almost fully met. Britain has provided £4.5 million of food and non-food bilateral assistance this year. We have providedmore bilateral food aid this year than any European donor and we will contribute 17 per cent. of the 432,000 metric tonnes whichwill be provided through the EC this year.