the European Economic Community, which provided for the supply of non- cereal products such as powdered milk and vegetable oil, in addition to the cereal aid. EEC was trying to co-ordinate its activities with other organizations and donor countries and to ensure that the type of product supplied was appropriate to the food habits of the target population. Accordingly, in the fight to remedy the effects of the drought affecting the Sahel, an evaluation of needs had been undertaken and a drought control plan was being implemented in co-operation with CILSS, WFP, other bodies of the united Nations system and donor countries. 237. He stressed that emergency aid should not affect long-term development or endanger food production in the affected areas; food-for-work programmes had been undertaken in which farmers were supplied not only with basic foodstuffs but also with seeds and other agricultural inputs. 238. In that context, he said that the Lome III Convention, signed on 8 December 1984, laid emphasis on co-operation in agricultural and rural development, conservation of natural resources, drought and desertification control, transport and communications in addition to financial assistance. 239, The representative of the Executive Co-ordinator of the United Nations Office for Emergency Operations in Africa, based at the United Nations Headquarters, informed the Conference of the work the Office was doing to reduce the unprecedented hardship and suffering of millions of Africans, resulting from the prolonged drought and other disasters. He drew the attention of the Ministers to the high population growth rate, low agricultural production, desertification and deterioration of arable land under pressure for many people trying to eke out a precarious living and observed that the current drought had merely aggravated long-standing problems. 2^0. He pointed out that the devotion of the ECA Conference of Ministers 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the efforts of the European Economic Community (EEC) and other organizations to provide aid to the Sahel region affected by drought. The text highlights the need for co-ordination between organizations and countries to ensure the effectiveness of the aid, as well as the importance of considering the long-term development and food production in the affected areas. The text also mentions the impact of the drought on the local population, including high population growth rates, low agricultural production, and desertification.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, Agriculture, forestry and fishing, Natural resources and environment