Lawrence Bong
3/8/01
Aid
shipments for Ethiopia could resume," Daily Texan
October 29,
1987
Main
Idea:
U.N. relief aid shipments have
difficulty reaching millions of needing starving Ethiopians.
Summary:
The Eritrean People’s
Liberation Front is fighting a civil war with the Ethiopian military. U.N. relief shipments have met
opposition by this group and have temporarily been stopped. The head of U.N. relief operations,
Michael Priestley, has decided to resume shipments within a week to northern
Ethiopia despite warnings from rebels. Rebels offered safe passage of shipments
in return for notice before agencies made shipments. The U.N rejected this offer and is not
willing to negotiate. An emergency
shipment was seized and contained 450 metric tons of wheat which was enough to
feed 35,000 to 40,000 people for a month.
Rebels stated that 3 trucks were carrying bullets, bombs and fuel to the
Ethiopian army. The 23 years of
ongoing fighting has contributed to the food problem among the 46 million
starving Ethiopian citizens. The
Eritrean People’s Liberation threatens consequences against any activities
without informing the EPLF first.