GOAL statement on Ethiopia’s Ogaden

Media Statement, 11th October 2007

GOAL is calling on the Irish government to use its influence with the Ethiopian authorities to allow food aid to flow to the people of the Ogaden. For the past few months Ethiopian forces have cut the region off from humanitarian organisations, leaving 600,000 people facing starvation.

GOAL recognises that the EU has also made such a call and adds that unless food aid flows to the region a serious humanitarian disaster is inevitable.

“The Irish government should use their clout with the Ethiopians to help the people of Ogaden. Every year Ireland gives a huge percentage of its development aid to Ethiopia - €30 million in 2006 alone,” said GOAL’s CEO John O’Shea.

“The Irish government has for years boasted of its friendship with the Ethiopian government and has channelled hundreds of millions of development aid though them. Since that is the case, the Ethiopian government should be prepared to listen and put humanitarianism before their expansionist plans.”  

For more information contact John O’Shea on 086 8527427