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Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
War didn’t cause the drought in Ethiopia


When the simmering conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia burst into war this spring, many observers questioned the conflict’s effect combined with the present drought situation and the need for international food aid.

Relief workers who recently visited the region agree that the conflict (currently a cease-fire has been signed) has not helped alleviate the drought-induced food crisis in either country. Nor was it the major cause of the food shortage.

Between eight and 10 million people in Ethiopia need food assistance, of which about 350,000 are war-displaced in the north, according to Ethiopia’s Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission.

“It’s very unfortunate that the war has again flared up. The war didn’t cause the drought. It will, however, definitely affect the rate of recovery from the drought,” said Willie Reimer, director of food, disaster and material resources for Mennonite Central Committee. He visited Ethiopia in June as part of a Canadian Foodgrains Bank drought assessment mission.

“The thousands of people that we saw are not engaged in politics. They are living on the periphery of society. They’re the ones most affected,” said Rick Fee, director of Presbyterian World Service and Development, who was also part of the CFGB mission.

There are some indications, however, that the world response to the humanitarian need was slowed by the war. There was a reluctance to donate grain when so many Ethiopian resources were going to the war effort.

Concern has been expressed that food aid was diverted to the war effort. Sam Vander Ende, CFGB representative in Ethiopia, said the Canadian government has looked into that matter. “There were absolutely no indications that food diversions was being made to feed the military,” he said.

“The food is getting to the people who need it,” said Reimer. When a CFGB shipment of 13,595 tonnes of wheat headed for Ethiopia arrived in Djibouti port at the beginning of June, it was quickly unloaded onto trucks. Distribution is currently underway.

“The reality of the war is that what Ethiopia needs is to put itself on a development track to raise up a generation of people who have never seen the barrel of a gun,” said Vander Ende. Ethiopia has spent 30 years in various stages of civil war, but chose peace in 1991. Eritrea gained independence two years later.

By going back to war in 1998, Vander Ende argued, Ethiopia lost the foundations for peace, and thus the foundation for better development. He said the people of Ethiopia need to address the problems caused by war.

 – Carol Thiessen, MCC

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Last modified September 20, 2000.

© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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