Addis Ababa, April 20(ENA)--More than 23,300 people in three woredas of Gedeo Zone, South Ethiopia Peoples' State are in need of emergency food aid due to rainfall scarcity over the last main rainy season (Meher), the Zonal Administrative Council disclosed.

During the second regular conference of the council that opened here on Saturday, it was pointed out that the stated number of people in Wonago, Yirgachefe and Cochere are facing famine.

Some 16,000 other people might also face shortage of food in the very near future, according to the conference.

The withering away of standing crops on nearly 32,000 hectares of land had exposed 25,000 people to drought last year.

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