Ayinde O. Chase

Washington, D.C., United States, August 13, 2011 – U.S. President Barack Obama has approved an additional $105 million in new drought and famine aid to East Africa. According to White House press secretary Jay Carney the aid money is for “urgent humanitarian relief efforts.”

The emergency move came during Jill Biden’s visit on Monday with the White House vowing the United States will continue to help those who desperately need food, shelter, water and medicine.

In a statement Carney went on to say, “Amid the worst drought in East Africa in 60 years, the United Nations has declared that famine now affects five regions in Somalia and predicts that famine could soon expand throughout southern Somalia.

Thousands of Somalis are fleeing the famine and seeking refuge in Kenya and Ethiopia, which are also affected by the drought. According to the United Nations, more than 12.4 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

In 2011, the United States has sent about $565 million in aid to Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, where drought conditions and widespread hunger has killed tens of thousands. The United Nations says more than 12 million people across the Horn of Africa are in dire need of aid and the conditions I being called one of the worst disasters on the planet right now.

Andris Piebalgs, EU Commissioner for Development also recently announced the decision to step up Europe’s long-term commitment to Somalia.

Piebalgs, who travelled to Somaliland less than a month ago, reiterated his conviction that development assistance can provide sustainable solutions because it tackles the root causes of protracted crisis. The Commissioner said: “Somalia is going through a severe humanitarian crisis. Drought is the immediate reason for this, but the root causes lie in the deeper structural problems of this fragile state. With this new funding we will contribute to strengthening institutions and will invest in better infrastructure, food security and education.”

Source: Gant Daily

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