- Ethiopian authorities have come out of the woods appealing to the world to help drought-stricken country today.
Ethiopian minster for food security, Mitiku Kassa today made a global appeal urging partners and donors to help millions facing hunger in his country.
He said with global financial crisis shifting priorities, international community should also not forget poor countries in Africa.
"My message to the world is 'don't forget Africa'," minister told press conference, making an appeal for US $265.6 million to help some 6.4 million people in need of emergency food aid.
Ethiopian government appeal comes when aid agencies were warning of a near hopeless crisis unless government was to come out clearly and stop down-playing food crisis situation in the country.
Agencies had also warned that 6.4 million figure given by government could be well below real situation of the ground with United Nations estimating a figure of more than 8 million people in need of food.
According to UN, millions of Ethiopians need emergency assistance and immediate food relief, following severe floods that hit Ethiopia last year, destroying most of the food crops and successive drought has worsened the situation. The Horn of Africa country has a history of the world's worst drought that killed a million Ethiopians in October 1984.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español