Agency says relief food reaching needy in Somali State, ambassadors touring state
Ethio Boy
March 01, 2008
The Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency (DPPA) said relief food has been properly distributed in Somali State.
Agency Deputy Director Gebremedihn Belay made the above remark recently while briefing a delegation comprising the United Nations Chief Coordinator in Ethiopia and ambassadors of different countries residing in the country that toured the state to assess the humanitarian condition in Somali State.
He said the swift measures taken during the past three months have helped prevent the food shortage that occurred earlier in the state.
According to him, 230,000 quintals of relief food has so far been distributed, which is 94 percent of the set target.
The number of needy has been declining, he further said adding that the distribution of relief food would also gradually fall if even rainfall distribution follows.
Somali State Chief Administrator, Abdulahi Hassen on his part warned anti-peace forces like the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) to refrain from disseminating erroneous information about the existence of humanitarian crisis in the state.
No single person has been displaced due to food shortage and there is no humanitarian crisis whatsoever, Abdulahi said urging those in doubt to visit the state and witness the truth.
Some international humanitarian organizations have been disseminating wrong information as they were forced to leave the state after being caught while supplying terrorists with drugs and providing other kinds of support, he said, pointing out the door is closed to those organizations that undertake covert acts under the disguise of providing humanitarian assistance.
The Chief Administrator finally told the delegation that they could visit any part of the state to see the objective reality.
Agency Deputy Director Gebremedihn Belay made the above remark recently while briefing a delegation comprising the United Nations Chief Coordinator in Ethiopia and ambassadors of different countries residing in the country that toured the state to assess the humanitarian condition in Somali State.
He said the swift measures taken during the past three months have helped prevent the food shortage that occurred earlier in the state.
According to him, 230,000 quintals of relief food has so far been distributed, which is 94 percent of the set target.
The number of needy has been declining, he further said adding that the distribution of relief food would also gradually fall if even rainfall distribution follows.
Somali State Chief Administrator, Abdulahi Hassen on his part warned anti-peace forces like the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) to refrain from disseminating erroneous information about the existence of humanitarian crisis in the state.
No single person has been displaced due to food shortage and there is no humanitarian crisis whatsoever, Abdulahi said urging those in doubt to visit the state and witness the truth.
Some international humanitarian organizations have been disseminating wrong information as they were forced to leave the state after being caught while supplying terrorists with drugs and providing other kinds of support, he said, pointing out the door is closed to those organizations that undertake covert acts under the disguise of providing humanitarian assistance.
The Chief Administrator finally told the delegation that they could visit any part of the state to see the objective reality.