United Nations, April 29 (IANS) UN officials have called for assistance to be stepped up to an estimated two million Ethiopians affected by the drought, Xinhua reports.

Water is being transported by trucks to residents in drought-hit areas of the southern and southeastern lowlands of the east African country, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in an update Thursday.

Emergency conditions are likely to persist until the next rainy season arrives in October.

UN aid agencies, which are working with national authorities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), are also handing out food to households in need in addition to providing health care, veterinary services and livestock feed.

UN agencies have said that the areas risk increased threats to disease outbreaks as the Horn of African country has been facing a drought in recent years.

Meanwhile, the Ethiopian government has requested an additional $75 million as humanitarian assistance this month and in May.