UNITED NATIONS (UPI) — Much of Ethiopia is in the grip of a drought that is expected to drag on into next year, the United Nations' humanitarian branch said Wednesday.

The outlook for agricultural crops in eastern Ethiopia remains grim, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported in New York. A recent crop assessment by the international group found that at least six areas of eastern Ethiopia have experienced near total crop failure because of inadequate rainfall.

A U.N. assessment team this week began to determine the African nation's emergency needs for the first half of 2009 as the wider Horn of Africa region endures the combined effects of drought and high food prices.

Last month, the U.N. humanitarian office appealed for $265 million to finance its relief operations across Ethiopia for the next three months to meet the widening crisis, which has left an estimated 6.4 million people dependent on food aid to survive.

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