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Ethiopia

ADRA network responds to Ethiopian famine

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) office in Sweden received $307,000 in funding on February 17 from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) to be used in aid of famine victims in Ethiopia.
The program to be implemented by ADRA in Ethiopia will focus on providing emergency food aid to 30,000 people for three months. Funding will also support the purchase of planting seeds to be supplied to local farmers. In addition, 55 families will each be provided a pair of oxen for use by their communities to improve agricultural production. Additional funding from private donors in Sweden and ADRA International will supply food to 10,000 people for two months.

Drought and resulting poor harvests have contributed to the crisis that Ethiopia is currently facing. According to the Ethiopian government, some 11 million people, or 17% of the population, are facing severe food shortages in the country. Reports indicate the current Ethiopian crisis is far worse than the droughts of 1984 and 2000.

Providing individual and community development and disaster relief without regard to political or religious association, age or ethnicity, ADRA is present in more than 125 countries.

Additional information about ADRA can be found on its website at www.adra.org .

MEDIA CONTACT:

Todd Reese
Marketing and Development Assistant
ADRA International
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904 USA
Voice: 301-680-6340
Fax: 301-680-6370
Cell: 301-675-1261