Ethiopia appeals for international aid in face of deepening food insecurity
Government requests $596m after crop failure caused by erratic rainfall leaves 48,000 under fives severely malnourished and 8.2 million people at risk The Ethiopian government is calling for international assistance to help feed 8.2 million people after erratic rains devastated crop yields. Climate shocks are common in Ethiopia and often cause poor or failed harvests that lead to acute food shortages. UN says 4.5 million Ethiopians now in need of food aid after poor rains Read more The government has allocated $192m (£124m) for food and other aid and is appealing for $596m in assistance from the international community for the remainder of 2015, said Mitiku Kassa, secretary of the Ethiopian disaster prevention and preparedness committee. More than 300,000 children are in need of specialised nutritious food and a projected 48,000 more children under five are suffering from severe malnutrition, according to a government assessment conducted in September. T