ReliefWeb

Geneva, 13 January 2003 - Action by Churches Together (ACT) International members based in Ethiopia - Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and Christian Aid (CAID) together with their local partner the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY)- are working to bring relief to about 34,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) living in Showa camp in Showa, Ethiopia.=A0
While CAID is focusing on supplementary feeding and health services, NCA is focusing mainly on food distribution.=A0 "We have to cover a 10 hour journey to reach the Showa camp from Addis Ababa," says Arne Saeveraas, NCA country director in a telephone interview. =A0

The situation in the area has been complicated by the uncertainty created by the Ethiopian government on whether the IDPs should be allowed to settle in the area or sent back. "We have been in fairly tough negotiations with the state on the future of the 34,000 IDPs whose numbers are growing daily. We are waiting for their decision, but we will continue to provide relief to the people," says Saeveraas.=A0

The Norwegian Development Minister is due to visit Ethiopia some time this week, "We hope that the minister will be able to visit the camp and also tackle the issue concerning the IDPs in the area," says Saeveraas.=A0

An ACT Appeal AFET-22 of=A0 US$ 27,030,875 million has already been issued, to bring relief to the estimated 6,8 million people affected by drought in Ethiopia.=A0

For further information please contact:

ACT Communications Officer Callie Long (mobile/cell phone +41 79 358 3171)
Or ACT Press Officer Diana Mavunduse (mobile/cell phone + 41 79 681 1868).

ACT Web Site address: http://www.act-intl.org=A0

ACT is a world-wide network of churches and related agencies meeting human need through coordinated=A0 emergency=A0 response.

The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF)=A0 in Switzerland.