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(2004/C 88 E/0094)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2490/03

by Bob van den Bos (ELDR) and Bashir Khanbhai (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(25 July 2003)

Subject:   Food aid to Ethiopia

At this moment more than 12,5 million people require food aid in Ethiopia. In response to the humanitarian crisis the Commission has increased the food aid component to EUR 115 million. Unfortunately, the situation in Ethiopia is still deteriorating and more help is needed.

How is the EU contribution to the food aid component spent?

What type of food is given to Ethiopia and where is its origin?

How does the European Commission assess the requirement for and the effectiveness of the food aid given to the Ethiopian people?

Does the European Commission have any intention to further increase its food aid component?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(25 September 2003)

The Commission has made a very substantial response to the crisis in Ethiopia.

The contributions from the Member States, for an amount of EUR 101 million, and the Commission, for an amount of EUR 114,3 million, are mainly financing the purchase of cereals. Concerning the Commission part, delivery is either directly to the Government of Ethiopia (EUR 81 million), or through grants to the World Food Programme (EUR 10 million), non-governmental organisations (NGOs) (EUR 13 million) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (EUR 5 million). The remaining EUR 5,3 million is ECHO'S contribution. The Commission also finances other operations related to the drought crisis such as NGO projects in the areas of health, nutrition and water and sanitation (EUR 22,8 million). The type of food is mainly cereals, but blended food for supplementary feeding has also been provided. The Commission systematically favours local and regional purchases because even in crisis years there are surplus areas where food can be procured. Furthermore, this prevents prices in the country and in the region from dropping excessively and thereby discouraging farmers to produce the following year. In 2003, 62 250 tonnes have been purchased locally by the Commission, and 48 000 tonnes regionally (Sudan). The balance is made up through imports, especially from the European market.

The Commission responds to appeals of the Government and United Nations (UN) organisations based on assessments of crops and humanitarian needs. The Commission has technical assistance in the country to assist the Delegation in analysing the local situation and monitoring the implementation. Local assessments of the effectiveness of the operation so far indicate that delivery and distribution of food aid are satisfactory.

The Commission has committed and will deliver to Ethiopia approximately 400 000 tonnes of food in 2003. An additional quantity of approximately 40 000 tonnes will be decided shortly. At this stage it is not foreseen to further increase the Commission contribution to Ethiopia in food aid namely because the Government has stated that the global pledges are in excess of the last appeal.

Though the overall response of donors to the Ethiopian appeal has been very satisfactory, and distributions have been carried out according to plan, nutritional surveys show that global acute malnutrition remains high in many areas of the country.

It is evident that food aid is not the answer to Ethiopia's problems. Food security — a deliberate policy to more basically change the situation is needed. The Commission is giving priority to a change in this direction in its dialogue with the government.

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