United Nations Radio

The World Food Programme is expanding operations to reach more than four million people in Ethiopia with emergency food assistance.

This latest move comes in response to the Government's urgent appeal for food and nutrition assistance to avoid hunger-related deaths in the coming months.

WFP is now providing emergency food assistance to 3.2 million people in Ethiopia.

The agency says in the coming months, it will scale up but at the same time it urgently needs additional contributions to reach all those in need.

WFP also plans to provide food assistance for 2.4 million people living in drought-affected areas under the development-oriented Productive Safety Net

Programme.

The head of WFP, Josette Sheeran, says "Ethiopia is facing a perfect storm with soaring food prices and a devastating drought," adding that the agency heard the Government's plea and is moving to reach all they can.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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