asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the threat of famine in Eritrea and the neighbouring Ethiopian province of Tigre; if he is aware of allegations that the Ethiopian regime is using the inflow of foodaid from foreign Governments and its national organisations to feed its own troops; the inquiries he is making or the action he is taking in regard to this matter; and if he will make a statement on this matter.
Written Answers. - Famine in Ethiopia.
646.
I am indeed aware of the famine situation in Ethiopia. Regrettably it is no longer the threat of famine but the reality of this terrible condition which is affecting this country at present. The most recent information available, based on Ethiopian Government figures, puts the total number of the drought-affected population at three million in 13 regions, of which the most seriously affected are the four northern regions of Gondar, Wollo, Tigre and Eritrea.
As the Deputy will be aware, the present famine situation is but the culmination of a succession of droughts which Ethiopia has suffered over the last decade. In 1981, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation estimated that 4.5 million of Ethiopia's population of 31 million existed on food aid. The country has also experienced repeated refugee crises in recent years as a result of the conflict in Eritrea and Tigre provinces and the dispute with Somalia over the Ogaden region.
My Department have continuously monitored the drought situation in Ethiopia and have done so particularly closely in recent months as the famine situation has worsened. We have received frequent reports on the extent of the famine from the national and international organisations involved in emergency relief work there. In common with many other countries, Ireland has contributed to the relief of the situation there. On 28 March 1983 the Government announced the allocation of £50,000 from the Disaster Relief Fund to the Irish Disaster Appeals Committee which groups together several of the Irish voluntary organisations engaged in the provision of emergency aid to Ethiopia. Ireland has also participated in the EEC's emergency aid to Ethiopia which has consisted of a grant of two million UAs and food aid in the form of 5,000 tonnes of cereals and 94 tonnes of butteroil.
I did receive reports that some of the emergency food aid being sent to Ethiopia was being misdirected and used for purposes other than was originally intended. These reports included allegations that some of the food aid was being diverted to the military forces instead of the civilian population. My Department investigated these reports and were satisfied that the vast bulk of the food aid was reaching the people for whom it was intended. The European Commission also conducted an investigation of similar allegations in relation to Community food aid through their delegation in Addis Ababa with the assistance of bilateral donors and non-governmental organisations. Their conclusion, which was reported to the European Parliament by Commissioner Pisani on 14 April, was that there was no evidence to suggest that there had been any significant or generalised deflection of aid. They recognised, however, that in certain areas of Ethiopia, the only available form of transport is military transport and that, to that extent, the military forces were involved in the distribution of food aid.
Since then there have been no further allegations of misdirection of food aid and the reports received by my Department do not suggest that any such misdirection is taking place. I can assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to monitor the situation in Ethiopia closely and will pay particular attention to the channels used for distributing food aid.
The Government would be seriously concerned if it were shown that emergency aid allocated to any country was not being used entirely for the purposes for which it was intended, i.e. the relief of the victims of the emergency in question. Emergency aid is given by the Government on the strict understanding that it is distributed fairly and equitably among all the affected people and it would be quite unacceptable if such aid were restricted to one particular group of people or section of the community.
If that were to take place in a particular country, the Government would take whatever steps were open to them to redress the situation and would seriously reconsider any plans they might have to provide further emergency aid to that country.