Britain urges international aid to help Ethiopia feed its people

ADDIS ABABA, Feb 10 (AFP) — Britain’s international development secretary Hilary Benn has urged the international community to help Ethiopia to feed its population.

“Ethiopia faces the immediate challenge of feeding its population and the international community must help,” Benn said in a statement released by the British embassy in Addis Ababa after talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

“But the longer-term challenge is how to ensure that Ethiopian people are able to feed themselves in the years to come. I have discussed how the UK can support the Ethiopian government in its efforts to break out of this cycle and we are planning to increase the UK’s development assistance significantly,” Ben said.

“There are millions of Ethiopians whose future depends on this happening, as well as on improving their health, their opportunities for education and their ability to take part in decisions affecting their future,” he added.

Britain has provided 50 million pounds sterling (93 million dollars or 73 million euros) in humanitarian aid to Ethiopia since 2002, over 21 million pounds in development support since 1998 and a further 10 million pounds in budget support in 2003, the statement said.

Benn arrived in Addis Ababa early on Sunday for a four-day official visit for talks with Ethiopian officials on issues including the border dispute with Eritrea.

Ethiopia has refused to accept a ruling by an independent commission on the path of the border with Eritrea, over which the Horn of Africa neighbours fought a war between 1998 and 2000.

Ethiopia has criticised the judgement of the Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission, released in 2002, mainly because it gave the contested town of Badme to Eritrea.

On a visit to Addis Ababa last month, Britain’s minister for Africa Chris Mullin said London had made it clear to both Ethiopia and Eritrea the border comission decision was final and binding.