UK gives Ethiopia £30m to fight drought similar in scale to 1984 crisis

Visiting Ethiopia, UK minister Nick Hurd says although government response has been impressive, relentless drought is 'pushing millions to the brink'

The UK will provide an extra 30m in aid for Ethiopia, where a prolonged drought means that more than 18 million people will need urgent relief in the next year, according to the Department for International Development (DfID).

Half of the cash is earmarked for the UN'S World Food Programme to supply emergency food supplies to around 1.9 million people, while 14m will go to a pooled fund that can be accessed by UN agencies and NGOs providing emergency water and healthcare.