afrol News, 14 October - 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.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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