Ethiopia: Aid organisations are issuing fresh calls for funds for drought-stricken east Africa after a poor response to initial appeals. Up to 11 million people in the Horn of Africa remain short of food, in spite of the arrival of rains in some areas, according to humanitarian aid workers.
Here in Ethiopia, one in five children in the southeastern region is malnourished and two out of every 10,000 die every day, according to the UN. However, some charities say their fundraising efforts have been hit by "donor fatigue" in the wake of last year's massive aid effort for victims of the Asian tsunami.
The Red Cross, for example, says it has raised just one-quarter of the €1 million it sought last February to help 60,000 people in Ethiopia. As a result, the Irish Red Cross is launching a new appeal this week for those affected in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya.
Aoife MacEoin, communications officer of the Irish Red Cross, described the international response to the initial appeal as shocking. She said that the sum sought was no more than the price of a mid-sized Dublin home. "For this amount, the Red Cross can provide food, water and the means to grow crops to Ethiopian farmers and nomads who have lost everything as a result of the recent drought."
However, she pointed out that Ireland was one of the biggest donors to the international Red Cross appeal. The Government has contributed €100,000 and the Irish Red Cross €50,000.
The chairman of the Irish Red Cross, former minister David Andrews, last week visited the worst-affected areas of Kenya to assess the situation. Mr Andrews, who is to relay his findings this week to the Minister of State with responsibility for overseas aid, Conor Lenihan, said the situation hung "in the balance".
"If the rains come, that's great, though there is the question of sanitation. If the rains don't come, cattle will continue to die and people will starve."
Mr Andrews described as horrific and heart-rending the scenes of malnourished children and dead cattle he had witnessed.
Last week, Oxfam launched its biggest food crisis appeal, for £20 million. The charity warned that deaths, currently at several hundred, could increase rapidly if sufficient aid is not delivered fast.
Earlier this month, the United Nation appealed for $426 million to help eight million East Africans affected by the drought.
Recent rains have been a mixed blessing. Crops and grass have sprouted, but thousands have been displaced by flooding. In some areas, heavy rain has washed away the topsoil.
Last Friday, the US announced it would provide an additional $25 million in aid to Ethiopia.