As ever, women and children will bear the brunt of this disaster.

The total number of people in need of food assistance will be just below 10 million for 2006.

Already we have an emerging crisis in the pastoral regions of Ethiopia with about 1.7 million people facing food insecurity and requiring assistance. 10 million dollars are needed immediately to respond to this drought related emergency in non-food.

This is the largest non-food appeal since the drought emergency of 2003 in Ethiopia.

The alarm has been raised in time but if we don't get the support we need, the results could be catastrophic. As ever, women and children will bear the brunt of this disaster.

Without urgent help the drought could spiral. Urgent emergency intervention in the form of food, water, and vital medicines for women and children is needed to avert an impending disaster.