Ethiopia secures over $531m for drought mitigation activities

Of the $1.4 billion needed to feed 10.2 million Ethiopians affected by the El Nino induced drought, over $531 million has so far been obtained from the international community, the country’s National Disaster Risk Management Commission said on Monday.
The government of Ethiopia allocated additional $109 million besides the fund it previously committed to supply food to the needy until January next year.
Only 46 percent of the total funding required to feed the people and provide health care service for one year has so far been made available, MitikuKassa, National Disaster Risk Management Commissioner, said. The remaining 54 percent is however yet to be obtained, he said.
Currently, the drought has affected 10.2 million Ethiopians living in 429 woredas (districts) in eight regional states and one city administration.
They are currently receiving the necessary support from the government, the commissioner said.
According to the Commissioner, the number of the needy is expected to decrease in July as better rain was forecasted by the National Meteorology Agency.The government is importing 405,000 metric tons of grains in addition to the 222,000 metric tons already available.
The governmen has also committed $380 million to tackle the problem.