He said Europe was making urgent plans, together with other donors, to send some 800, 000 tonnes of food aid to Ethiopia.
Last year, tens of thousands of Somalis fled rural areas - many over the borders to Ethiopia and Kenya - in search of food.
And it prevents food for land-locked Ethiopia arriving through the Eritrean ports of Massawa and Assab, from where it could be carried on by rail.
WFP, Ethiopia will need at least another 2m tonnes of food aid to keep people alive next year.
ECONOMIST: Facing famine, Ethiopia appeals urgently for food aid
In Ethiopia, for example, farmers receive cash and food in exchange for work on community projects through the government-led Productive Safety Nets Program, which both the U.S. and the UK support.
The whole business of food aid to Africa has come under additional scrutiny recently after a BBC report alleged that up to 95% of the cash provided to buy food for rebel-controlled areas during Ethiopia's horrendous famine in 1984-85 was in fact used to buy weapons.
ECONOMIST: Food aid for Africa: When feeding the hungry is political | The
Everywhere in Ethiopia, locals have offered help, friendship and great food to go with their stunning scenery and historic sites.
Last year's famine in Ethiopia set a precedent, with 100, 000 tonnes of food aid coming through Berbera, which had previously been written off as too small and too decrepit.
There was war all over southern Sudan but in Ethiopia, we were told, we would be safe and there would be food, dry beds, school.
The report - Food for Thought - is based on studies of thousands of children in Ethiopia, India, Peru and Vietnam.
We commend Ethiopia and Kenya for building the resiliency of their nations to mitigate the shock of food insecurity and drought, as well as their effort to host and provide a safe place for Somali refugees.
Meles Zenawi, Ethiopia's prime minister, gave warning that his country faced a famine worse than that of 1984 if food aid was not increased.
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