Ethiopia Famine Response Falling Short, Say Major Aid Agencies

Catholic Relief Services
Wednesday, 6 August 2003

Calling the Ethiopia famine the "greatest humanitarian crisis facing any single nation in the world today," with more than 12 million people relying on food aid to survive, the leaders of eight major aid agencies committed at a press conference today to reaffirm their determination to address immediate and long-term needs in the country and asked for support from private donors, U.S. corporations and the U.S. government. The organizations, which called the commitment a "significant start that can save lives and lay the groundwork for Ethiopia's future development," noted the United States must continue to work in partnership with the Ethiopian government to address the root causes of famine and build self-sufficiency among the Ethiopian people.

"It is important to note that the U.S. government, and, in particular, our Congress, has been very generous and proactive in responding to the food aid needs in Ethiopia," said Ken Hackett, Catholic Relief Services President and Chief Executive Officer. "But unless we start to treat the problems, such as poverty and lack of development, rather than purely the symptoms, such as hunger and disease, the same chronic emergency state will remain, and we will be back here in two or three years, saying the same things."

In addition to Ambassador Kassahun Ayele, Ethiopian Ambassador to the United States, Hackett was joined by Charles MacCormack, President of Save the Children–USA; Kathryn Wolford, President of Lutheran World Relief; Julius Coles, President of Africare; Peter Bell, President of CARE USA; Dean Triantafilou, President of International Orthodox Christian Charities; Serge Duss, Director, Public Policy and Advocacy, World Vision; and Gary Flake, Director of Humanitarian Services, Church of Latter-day Saints.

The agencies noted that food alone has not been enough to combat the famine, as tens of thousands of children, most between the ages of 2 and 5, are severely malnourished, with many facing almost certain death unless they receive immediate medical attention. Urgent needs in Ethiopia include emergency supplies of clean water and medicines—such as basic antibiotics, re-hydration solutions, medicines for the treatment of malaria, tuberculosis and dysentery—as well as insecticide-treated mosquito nets.

But the aid groups focused most heavily on the importance of long-term activities to build self-sufficiency, address poverty and prevent future famines in Ethiopia, particularly through investments in agriculture, water, health and education. Specific recommendations included the immediate provision of seeds, tools, livestock and fertilizers to enable farming communities to recover and resume food production, as well as, where possible, the establishment of seed voucher programs to strengthen local markets. Additional needs mentioned include equipment and resources for construction of reservoirs, small dams, boreholes, wells and other water conservation structures; improved transport and storage facilities to strengthen agricultural markets; and across-the-board investments in health, safe drinking water, education and community development

"Many of us standing before you have witnessed firsthand the capacity of the Ethiopian people, and we know they do not need handouts," said Hackett. "Achieving self-sufficiency among the Ethiopian people will take leadership in Washington and Ethiopia, support from the American people and the corporate world and years of hard work and commitment. But it's the right thing to do, and it will also save money in the long run."

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the lead agency in a consortium of private voluntary organizations—known as the Joint Emergency Operational Plan (JEOP)—that is reaching 4.5 million of the 12.5 million people in need across Ethiopia. CRS is also distributing locally purchased supplementary food to selected vulnerable communities and providing basic medicine, water rehabilitation and seed distribution to help farmers recover from the current crisis.

For more information, or to contact Catholic Relief Services, see their website at: www.catholicrelief.org