News In Brief

Despite food appeal, Ethiopia says no new grain has arrived

Seven weeks after an emergency appeal for food, no new grain supplies have reached famine-stricken Ethiopia, the country's top relief administrator, Dawit Wolde Giorgis, said Wednesday. He said only 8,000 tons of grain remained in warehouses to feed 9 million people. Ethiopia needs at least 100,000 tons a month, according to Western estimates.

Despite huge donations of money, Western aid workers say the arrival of grain has been delayed by the time needed to organize shipments as well as the great distances involved. The next big shipment is expected to arrive Dec. 12 from Australia.

(See related story on Page 24.)

In Ontario, the legislature has canceled its annual $7,000 Christmas party and is sending the money to famine-stricken Ethiopia instead.