Ethiopia – USAID Provides $400 Million in Humanitarian Assistance

Ethiopia – USAID Provides $400 Million in Humanitarian Assistance

American People Respond to Needs of Ethiopians

November 5, 2009 Addis Ababa (U.S. Embassy)

– The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), have provided US$340 million in emergency and humanitarian food aid — more than 464,000 metric tons –and more than $60 million in emergency nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene, and similar non-food assistance over the last year to support vulnerable families and communities in Ethiopia.

The Government of Ethiopia recently announced that 6.2 million Ethiopians are in need of emergency food aid relief as a result of the unexpectedly low rainfall in recent months. USAID is providing an initial contribution of US$50 million to the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) and US$25 million to a consortium of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to respond to these relief needs.

This most recent US$75 million donation, representing 117,810 metric tons of food, has been ordered and should arrive in mid- to late-January 2010. This donation will support WFP contributions to the general relief program, and support emergency relief efforts undertaken by the NGO consortium. Lead organizations within the NGO consortium include Catholic Relief Services, CARE, Food for the Hungry International, the Relief Society of Tigray, Save the Children/US, Save the Children/UK, and World Vision. The bulk of USAID’s contributions this year have already arrived and been distributed to beneficiaries. An August 2009 contribution of US$90 million in food relief commodities is scheduled to arrive in mid-November, allowing continued USAID support of relief needs.

“The U.S. Government remains committed to working in collaboration with other donors and the Government of Ethiopia to assist Ethiopians in need of food,” said USAID Mission Director Thomas H. Staal. “These important, life-saving efforts are necessary to confront food insecurity in Ethiopia.”

All American food aid meets U.S. food safety standards. The United States does not give food aid consisting of viable modified organisms, such as corn or soy grain which could be planted if distributed as aid. The United States does contribute Corn Soy Blend and vegetable oil (which currently contains soy oil) which are essential components of the relief ration. These processed foods may be produced from genetically modified corn or soy, however do not contain viable modified organisms.

In addition to ongoing relief efforts, USAID is also continuing to support the Ethiopian Government’s Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP), a public works program which helps more than 7.5 million chronically food insecure Ethiopians every year. The PSNP begins phase two in January 2010. The U.S. donation of nearly 158,500 tons of food aid will support the PSNP program by targeting chronically food insecure populations. The food will be distributed by USAID partners to more than two million beneficiaries of the safety net program in 58 woredas in Afar, Amhara, Oromiya, Tigray, and Somali regions. The United States remains the largest donor of humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia.

In addition to food assistance, the U.S. promotes growth in agricultural production consistent with market principles, increased access to markets and advancement of global policy solutions that foster trade and investment in agriculture. USAID also supports the Ethiopian people through health, education, agriculture, livelihoods, and water and sanitation programs.