New drought strikes millions in Ethiopia
NAIROBI - Millions of Ethiopians face a hunger crisis for a second consecutive year after drought hit sub-Saharan Africa's second most populous nation, the United Nations said on Tuesday as it appealed for more than $900 million in aid.
A strong aid response to last year's El Nino-linked drought, has almost halved the number of Ethiopians needing food aid to 5.6 million since mid-2016, but a lack of rains once again threatens the country's ability to feed itself, it said.
"Last year, (we were)... able to mount the biggest drought response operation in global history," Mitiku Kassa, head of Ethiopia's National Disaster Risk Management Commission, said in a statement.
"Today we need that partnership once again as we face a new drought," he said, appealing for $948 million in aid.
