NAIROBI, 29 November (IRIN) - The number of Ethiopians who will need food aid in 2007 is expected to be lower than the three million who have been dependent on emergency assistance this year because food production is expected to improve after good rainfall, an early warning network reported on Wednesday.

Those still in need of emergency assistance will be found mainly in the northeastern and southeastern lowlands and the few crop-dependent areas affected by the floods in July and August this year, according to the November report of the USAID-funded Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS Net).

"Humanitarian needs are likely to be much lower than last year in crop-dependent areas, which will benefit most from this season's good production. The government and donors should ensure that sufficient funds are available to cover the reduced humanitarian needs of Ethiopia at least for the first half of next year," the report said.

It noted that recent good rainfall in pastoral areas and ongoing humanitarian assistance are improving the food security and nutrition situation in Ethiopia. More than 7.3 million chronically food-insecure people had benefited in 2006 from the Productive Safety Net Program, receiving predictable food or cash transfers during the hungry season.

The effects of several consecutive rain failures in the past two years and the recent floods will, however, continue through the next months.

"The recent rains in Somali Region have been encouraging but will not lead to an immediate reduction in beneficiary figures, as a significant recovery will take several months. A large food-insecure population will remain through the first quarter of 2007, and a lack of sufficient carry-over resources at the beginning of the year could result in widespread food shortages," according to FEWS Net.

Jn/mw

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