Ethiopian Food Situation: International Response (CRS Report for Congress)
Premium Purchase PDF for $24.95 (19 pages)
add to cart or
subscribe for unlimited access
Pro Premium subscribers have free access to our full library of CRS reports.
Subscribe today, or
request a demo to learn more.
| Release Date |
June 28, 1985 |
| Report Number |
IB85061 |
| Authors |
Lafayette Barnes, Foreign Affairs and National Defense Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
In Ethiopia, nearly eight million people are affected by famine. As ofFeb. 4, 1985, reports indicate that an estimated 2.5 million are living inimmediate danger of death because of the critical food situation. Reliefofficials have reported that at least nine cf Ethiopia's 14 regisns havesevere food shortages. The most seriously affected regions are located inthe northern parts of the country.In November 1984, the international community launched a massive reliefoperation to assist the suffering people in Ethiopia. Private citizens,governments, and international organizations have sent emergency relief aidto Ethiopia. The nacion's underdeveloped transport infrastructzre andinternal armed conflicts have limited the inland distribution of reliefassistance.The United States has donated the largest share of the world-wide reliefeffort. Members of Congress nave passed legislation, the African FamineRelief and Recovery Act of 1985 (P.L. 99-8), authorizing emergency reliefassistance to Ethiopia and other famine-stricken countries. Some observersfavor trying to remove restrictions that prohibit long-term agriculturaldevelopment assistance and other forms of economic aid to Ethiopia, but manycontinue to believe that aid to this Marxist-oriented nation should belimited to humanitarian relief. The Ethiopian food situation will probablyremain a central issue among U.S. lawmakers and relief officials during the99th Congress.
