France, April 17 -- A UN donor conference held in Geneva had hoped to raise significant pledges towards a $1 billion target (€940 million) to address the "critical" humanitarian situation in Ethiopia over the next three months. However pledges fell short at €570 million.

More than 21 million people need urgent aid in Ethiopia, where a food crisis is deepening.

Organisers said ahead of the conference they did not expect to raise the full amount by Tuesday, but rather to begin closing the gap between needs and funding.

"We understand this is just the beginning, and we hope for continued and increased support throughout the year," UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya said in a statement.

Twenty ...