Ethiopia Food Crisis

EDM number 217 in 2002-03, proposed by John Austin on 27/11/2002.

That this House expresses its extreme concern about the humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia due to the failure of the early (Belg) and later (Kiremt) rainy seasons and the impact upon food production; notes that the failure of the Belg rains in April and May and the impact on planting and early development of maize and sorghum, the major staple foods in the rural areas, gave an early indication of impending food shortages; further notes that the late arrival of the Kiremt rains have compounded the situation by causing further crop losses, reduced pasture and water resources, and that this has resulted in severe food shortages and availability of livestock products; is concerned that emergency food security reserves may fall below acceptable minimal levels by the end of the year and that the current drought may impact into 2003; regrets that the response of the international community has been slow; is further concerned that hunger will lead to population migration with potentially disastrous long-term consequences; further notes the multi-agency assessments that on best estimates six million people will be at risk of starvation and that this figure could rise to 15 million; and calls upon DFID and the international community to mount an immediate emergency humanitarian and feeding programme for Ethopia and the Horn of Africa.

This motion has been signed by a total of 74 MPs, 1 of these signatures have been withdrawn.