Addis Ababa, Feb. 20(ENA)--The United State's government has announced a 27,000 metric tons of food aid valued at 12.2 million USD and a new non-food assistance worth 7.2 million USD to Ethiopia's emergency.

The announcement came at a joint press conference by Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Roger Winter and U.S Ambassador to the United Nations Food and Agriculture agencies, Tony Hall here on Wednesday.

Winter said the 7.2 million USD non-food assistance would be used for water and sanitation, seeds and agriculture rehabilitation as well as primary health care and nutrition.

''Further non-food assistance is forthcoming,'' he said and urged other donors to make additional resources available to meet the critical needs of drought-affected people.

The assistant administrator said the 27,000 metric tons of relief food contribution to Ethiopia would be made available through the NGO consortia emergency program.

''This contribution increases the recent U.S. pledge made by USAID Administrator Andrew Natsios to 289,000 metric tons, valued at approximately 130 million USD, in response to the 2003 food aid needs, '' he said.

According to US Embassy press release, Winter and Ambassador Hall are travelling together on a five-day visit to Ethiopia to review drought-affected areas and visit US-funded projects.

During talks with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and DPPC Commissioner Simon Mechale, the US officials stressed the need for non-crisis related development, continued policy reforms and increased commitment to contain the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Winter and Ambassador Hall have been impressed with the resolve of the Ethiopian people to "shape their own future", the release said.

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