Addis Ababa — United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes expressed yesterday that persistent relief aid to the drought affected areas of Ethiopia is needed in order for the dire situation not to worsen to famine.

In the talks he had with members of the international media in Addis Ababa, Holems disclosed that he had consultations with the Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister, State Ministers, and the president of the Somali Regional state on issues of speeding up food aid provision and "distribution in the most equitable way of logistics as possible".

The Under-Secretary General elaborated that he has seen the previous day the "worst-affected areas of the Conso Woredas" due to the "severe effects of failure of the Belg (Spring) rains" for consecutive months.

He said that he has fortunately seen "good responses to tackle severe child malnutrition problems and food distributions".

On the second day of his second visit to Ethiopia, the official visited Jijiga, Lafa'isa and Kebridehar in Somali Region, where he spoke with those affected by the region's ongoing humanitarian crisis and pressed home the need to strengthen humanitarian activities.

After meeting with the President of Somali Regional State, Holmes travelled to Lafa'isa refugee screening centre, and spoke both with asylum seekers from Somalia and with Ethiopians desperately seeking humanitarian assistance.

"A great many Ethiopians have come to Lafa'isa due to the drought, the effects of which are made worse by current high food prices and conflict in the Somali region," said Holmes. "In the absence of humanitarian assistance, Ethiopians attempt to adopt the status of asylum seekers in the hope of accessing food, shelter and medical care. While they may not be asylum seekers, they live in grim conditions and need immediate assistance." In tandem with visiting the drought afflicted areas, Holems said that he discussed with the Ethiopian senior officials on the "serious allegations of human rights abuses in the Somalia region, from both sides." He said to report to the concerned bodies for attention to clarify these allegations so that the threat is not obscured or undermined including undertaking "most objective assessments of the number of drought victims".

Holems appreciated the cooperation of the government in taking part to tackle the current crises as well in the effort of appealing to international donors for more persistent relief resources via necessary interjections regarding nutrition and health care.