BRITAIN, WHICH HAD CUT DIRECT BUDGET SUPPORT TO THE ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENT OVER ITS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS DURING POST-ELECTION DISTURBANCES IN THE COUNTRY IN 2005, JOINED THE WORLD BANK FRIDAY IN ANNOUNCING A NEW 400 MILLION US DOLLAR AID PACKAGE, DPA REPORTED. BRITAIN CHOSE THIS OPTION WITH A COMMITMENT THAT "THE POOR SHOULD NOT BE MAKE TO SUFFER" BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL PROBLEMS IN THE COUNTRY ACCORDING TO PAUL ACKROYD, HEAD OF BRITAIN'S DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (DFID)IN ETHIOPIA THE JOINT COMMITMENT AIMS TO HELP IMPROVE BASIC HEALTH, EDUCATION AND THE SUPPLY OF POTABLE WATER. IN RETURN ADDIS ABABA IS EXPECTED TO SPUR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND IMPROVE ITS HUMAN RIGHTS AND GOVERNANCE CREDENTIALS. DFID CONTRIBUTED ALMOST HALF OF THE MONEY OR 170-MILLION DOLLARS, BUT STRESSED THAT THE AID WILL GO STRAIGHT TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT, BYPASSING THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT. BRITAIN SUSPENDED DIRECT BUDGET SUPPORT TO PRIME MINISTER MELES ZENAWI'S GOVERNMENT IN JANUARY OVER HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS FOLLOWING CONTROVERSIAL NATIONAL AND REGIONAL ELECTION IN MAY 2005. OVER 100 LEADERS OF THE OPPOSITION AND HUMAN-RIGHTS ACTIVISTS ARE CURRENTLY ON TRIAL ON CHARGES OF CONSPIRACY TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT AND ALLEGED GENOCIDE. -
