ICRC preparing to donate relief food to Ethiopia: Kellenberger

Addis Ababa, August 22(ENA)-- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has announced that it is preparing to provide food assistance to compatriots affected by food shortage in some parts of the country.

ICRC President, Jakob Kellenberger, said the Committee was designing a program that enables it to offer relief food to the needy particularly in the Afar state.

Kellenberger made the remarks during discussions with President Girma Wolde-Giorgis and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi here on Thursday.

During talks with President Girma Kellenberger briefed the President about ICRC humanitarian activities in Ethiopia, a senior official with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who attended the discussion said.

President Girma commended on his part ICRC's humanitarian and development activities in Ethiopia.

In a related news, ICRC President and Prime Minister Meles dwelt at length on the exchange of Prisoners of War (POWs) between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Meles told Kellenberger that Ethiopia was considering the resumption of POWs exchange with Eritrea.

The Prime Minister also expressed his government's willingness to continue working in close collaboration with ICRC.

Asked to comment on the condition of the Ethiopian pilot, Bezabih Petros, who is under Eritrea's detention at present, Kellenberger declined to give any details on the issue.

Meanwhile, Kellenberger visited on Wednesday ICRC's humanitarian activities being carried out in some parts of the Tigray State.

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