UN envoy on humanitarian crisis in Horn of Africa arrives in Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA (AFP) Nov 06, 2003
The special UN envoy for the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa Martti Ahtisaari arrived in Ethiopia to review the situation in the drought-affected region.

"The objective of Ahtisaari's mission is to review the overall humanitarian situation in Ethiopia with a special focus on chronic food insecurity and strategies to reduce the vulnerability to future droughts," a statement issued here by the United Nations children's fund (UNICEF) said.

Ahtisaari, a former Finnish president, arrived late Wednesday and is due to visit agriculture and water projects in Ethiopia. He will have talks with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi before travelling on Sunday to neighbouring Eritrea.

In August, Ethiopia appealed for an additional 250,000 tonnes of emergency food aid, saying the number of people in need following a prolonged drought had risen to 13.2 million.

TERRA.WIRE