US to Provide Ethiopia $88Mln in Aid to Address El Nino Effects

US Agency for International Development said that United States will offer Ethiopia charitable assistance to address the crisis caused by the periodic climate change phenomenon El Nino.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The United States will offer Ethiopia charitable assistance to address the crisis caused by the periodic climate change phenomenon El Nino, the US Agency for International Development said in a release on Friday.

“The US Agency for International Development (USAID) announced an additional $88 million in humanitarian assistance for Ethiopia today to address the humanitarian crisis resulting from the impacts of the El Nino phenomenon,” the release stated.

Ethiopia has been hurt by El Nino, which has caused a decline in agricultural production, destroyed livestock and hurt the country’s food security.

USAID noted that by early 2016, estimated 10.2 million Ethiopians will be in need of relief food assistance.

“This is in addition to 7.9 million chronically food insecure covered by the Government of Ethiopia-led Productive Safety Net Program,” the release added.

Ethiopia has received more than $435 million in humanitarian assistance in 2015, which augments funding for food, but also water, sanitation and personal hygiene support.