FAMINE AND DEBT RELIEF IN ETHIOPIA

Motion Text

That this House notes with serious concern the fact that 11 million Ethiopians are set to face severe food shortages in 2003; further notes that the food shortages in Ethiopia are on a similar scale to those of southern Africa; notes that Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world; further notes that Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world; further notes that half of all Ethiopian children under five suffer malnutrition, and one in 10 children die before their fifth birthday; notes that Ethiopia is a heavily indebted poor country; further notes that between 1998 and 2001, Ethiopia paid a total of US $536 million to her international creditors in debt repayments; believes Ethiopia needs deeper and more effective debt relief; and calls on the Government to urge Ethiopia's international creditors immediately to suspend Ethiopia's debt repayments in order to focus on the fight against famine.