Annan appoints envoy on drought in horn of Africa
Regional, Economics, 4/1/2000

Seeking to address a looming humanitarian crisis in the horn of Africa, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appointed a special envoy on the drought in the region.

Catherine Bertini, executive director of the World Food Program, whose appointment was announced in New York Thursday, is expected to travel to Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Kenya between 11-19 April, to raise awareness on the deteriorating food situation and escalating threat of famine.

"She will also be working to obtain commitments from governments and other parties to conflicts to provide secure access to humanitarian agencies," Carolyn McAskie, UN deputy emergency relief co-ordinator, said while announcing the appointment.

The trip will also provide an opportunity for the Bertini to look into country and regional dimensions of the crisis, address logistic concerns and consider how immediate response to the crisis may lay the foundation for longer-term food security in the region.

McAskie announced that 12.4 million people in seven countries in the greater horn of Africa are facing food crisis, brought about by drought and conflicts.

Countries affected in the horn are Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya, Sudan, Djibouti and Uganda.

Besides the horn of Africa, UN estimates that nearly four million people are in need of food relief in Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda.

It estimates that 940,000 metric tonnes of relief food assistance will be required for the affected people in the horn of Africa in 2000.

"Ethiopia accounts for 80 per cent of this requirement," McAskie said.

Current relief operations by WFP are expected to provide 371,000 tonnes of food assistance, valued at 205 million dollars to about six million drought-affected people.

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