Addis Ababa, Dec. 25(ENA)--Irish Development Aid, an international humanitarian organization, has donated 30 million Birr in support of the drought-affected citizens in South Ethiopian Peoples' State.

Representative of Irish ambassador to Ethiopia said the 30 million Birr donation was part of the over 91 million Birr earmarked by the charity to undertake development programs in Sidama, Silte and Gurage zones.

The representative was speaking at a daylong consultation meeting that discussed on the prevailing drought here on Tuesday.

The representative said the charity would also divert funds from the 61 million Birr budget it earmarked for its development programs to drought emergency assistance.

The government of Ireland had donated earlier 33.4 million Birr to the emergency relief operation underway in the country.

World-vision Ethiopia South Branch Office director, Bekako Duguma, said on his part that the charity has allocated five million Birr for the purchase and distribution of select-seeds among farmers in the region.

World-vision Ethiopia has apportioned various select-seeds among 4,950 farmers so far, he said, adding it has also set aside close to three million Birr to undertake the construction of irrigation schemes and potable water facilities.

Action Aid Ethiopia South Branch Office coordinator, Yitena Tekalign, also said that apart from carrying out development activities that focused on mitigating the ill-effects of the drought the charity has allocated 1.2 million Birr for emergency assistance.

Some 40 humanitarian organizations operating in the state have attended the consultation meeting and vowed to do their level best to address the current food crisis.

Speaking at the conclusion of the meeting Head of the South Ethiopian Peoples' State Administration, Hailemariam Desalgne urged humanitarian organizations and civic associations in the region to mobilize the public for development to sustainably mitigate the recurrent food shortage.

Some 88 humanitarian organizations are undertaking 413 development projects at a cost of about one billion Birr that could serve over 7.9 million people in the region.

(ENA)