Addis Ababa, Jan.23(ENA)--The United Nations Systems Resident Coordinator has underscored the need to enhance the Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Ethiopia alongside helping avert the looming humanitarian crisis in the country.

Samuel Nyambi said a more enhanced ODA flow would enable to undertake long-term development programs in an attempt to withstand the ill effects of cyclic drought in the country.

Nyambi made the remarks here on Tuesday in a joint press briefing he gave with the World Food Program (WFP) Executive Director, James T. Morris on the relief operations underway in the county.

Ethiopia has secured only 20 dollars per capita ODA flows in 2002, which he said, is much lower than the ODA flows to other sub-Saharan African countries.

Some 36 percent of the ODA flow goes to the humanitarian assistance , he said.

According to the coordinator, a lesser amount of ODA flows could also deter the investment activities in the country.

The official development assistance needs to be significantly increased to help Ethiopia deal with the impacts of drought and ensure sustainable development, Nyambi said.

Nyambi has also lauded the humanitarian interventions of WFP, which he said, is a major relief food contributor in the UN systems.

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