42,000 tons of relief food arrives port

Addis Ababa, October 24(ENA)-- The World Food Program (WFP) says a 42,000 tons of relief food arrived on Thursday at the port of Djibouti for drought stricken people in Ethiopia.

According to a press release issued by WFP on Thursday, the shipment of wheat valued at 15 million US Dollar was the contribution of the U.S. government.

The U.S. chartered vessel 'Liberty Glory' started offloading the urgently needed relief food which is being quickly transferred onto trucks destined for various warehouses in Ethiopia.

The release said the shipment was one of the three vessels expected in Djibouti this week to deliver more than 100,000 tons of food aid for WFP relief operation in Ethiopia.

WFP Deputy Country Director said the prompt arrival of the food aid was a clear sign of the US government's commitment to help the drought affected people in Ethiopia.

Benedict Fultang called up on other donor countries to act quickly to help avert a major humanitarian crisis.

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Acting Director Tom Park said the recent emergency donations by the United States and other donors will allow Ethiopia to release food stocks from emergency reserves.

According to the release, timely donor pledges were vital so that food aid shipment are scheduled to match the food requirements through the year.

The WFP and other food aid agencies are seeking urgent funds to cover the country food aid needs for the first quarter of 2003 estimated between 350,000-500,000 tons, the release added.

The number of people in need of food aid is expected to rise sharply from the current six million to 10 to 12 million in 2003, it said.

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