Addisu Legese Addis Ababa, June 13 (WIC) - Institutions that exaggerate the food shortage in Ethiopia and report inflated figures of the needy are intent on belittling the economic growth of the country and calculating their interests, Deputy Prime Minister Addisu Legesse said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development told journalists yesterday that some institutions engaged in relief work consider the decline in the number of the needy as a threat to their existence.They therefore have been suggesting to report inflated figures so as to get huge assistance,he added. According to Addisu, the number of people facing food shortage due to the shortage of Belg rains in some areas of the country stands at 4.6 million and the government has been providing assistance for them. The food shortage has occurred in some woredas of SNNP, Oromia, Somali, Amhara and Tigray states, it was indicated. Though various institutions have been reporting exaggerated figures of needy people, a study carried out by the government has ascertained that the number stands at only 4.6 million, he reiterated. The figure includes people living belg growing regions as well as households embraced under the safety net program of the government, the Deputy Prime Minister added. Of the stated figure, the number of children under the age of five and in need of follow up and support is just 75,000, it was pointed out. Some 775,000 quintals of food has so far been apportioned to the people since last February, he said, adding that medical care was also given by earmarking 50 million birr budget, according to him. The government would further enhance the support it has been rendering to the people needy in collaboration with partners, the Deputy Premier concluded. |
