Ethiopia (September 1994)

Of the total 1994 import requirement of 1.27 million tonnes 0.97 million has been pledged and 0.66 million tonnes imported. Offtake from Assab has exceeded historical records, though off-take through Massawa in Eritrea has been hampered by lack of funding for spare parts for port equipment.

The recently harvested 1994 secondary ‘belg’ crop is estimated to be sharply below normal levels. However, normal to above normal rains in July and August benefitted the main ‘meher’ coarse grain crop and the outlook for the harvest is favourable. Direct distribution programmes being wound down in many areas to leave a carryover stock for use in building up national and regional food security reserves.

Refugee ration card revalidation operation in refugee camps in Somali Region 5 has reduced each household to one card only and a new official refugee population figure of 180,000.

However, increased malnutrition (wasting) among the populations in Darwonji and Teferiber camps have resulted in the implementation of a three month supplementary feeding programme by UNHCR and NGOs. Approximately 41,000 Somali refugees are settled around Gode in Somali Region 5.