FAMINE IN AFRICA
“The Famine: Emergency Is Still Here,” (by Dennis McDougal, Jan. 26) contained an excellent summary of the current famine situation in Africa.
However, it understated the magnitude of the problem in both Ethiopia and Sudan. Ethiopia is currently facing massive food shortages due to a terrible combination of insufficient rains; flooding; crop pests; insufficient fertilizer, seed and farmers; civil war; depleted stores and other factors. Current estimates place the 1986 need for grain obtained from relief activities at higher levels than for 1985 .
The situation in much of Ethiopia and Sudan is now desperate-- far worse than the somewhat rose-colored picture painted in recent months by U.S. media. This is not a false cry for help. Without significantly more volunteer aid to assist the efforts of U.S. and other governments in Sudan and Ethiopia, a million or more people may die from starvation and the effects of forced relocation in these two countries in the next year.
EDMUND H. CONROW
Culver City
Conrow has served as an analyst for Ethiopian drought assessment for the U.S. government.
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