American Food Aid Pledges Top One Million Tons for the Ethiopian Humanitarian Crisis
WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
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2003-059
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 2, 2003
Contact: USAID Press Office
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Government's contribution of food assistance to the Ethiopian humanitarian crisis has surpassed one million metric tons (approximately 2.2 billion pounds) with today's announced contribution of approximately 250,000 metric tons, valued at $99.4 million, in food assistance to Ethiopia. The new contribution, which was announced by Andrew S. Natsios, Administrator of the U.S. Agency International Development (USAID), will be distributed through the World Food Program (WFP) and a consortium of non-governmental organizations.
In 2003, the USAID has pledged approximately 878,790 metric tons, or 57% of the emergency food aid requirements for 2003 for Ethiopia.
"The American people are committed to meeting the enormous humanitarian needs in the Horn of Africa," Natsios said. "Our response to this crisis, along with that of other donors, is helping to avert famine. Nevertheless, pockets of extreme food insecurity remain, and should the rains fail again, we may face the worst case scenario." Natsios also welcomed the opportunity to work with the Ethiopian Government other donors to develop a comprehensive plan to prevent future food crisis.
12.6 million drought-affected Ethiopians are in need of food aid and an additional 3.1 million require close monitoring. The Government of Ethiopia and the WFP estimate that Ethiopia will require over 1.54 million metric tons of food aid in 2003. Since the onset of the emergency in 2002, the U.S. Government has pledged over 1,000,000 tons of food aid to Ethiopia valued at approximately $475 million, and delivered 626,029 tons.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.
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