 Donate Donate Donate Donate Donate Donate unicef.ie unicef unhcr save global giving unicef usa the children Africa is under one of largest food hunger disaster we request to all over readers all across the world kindly make your contributions as per provided details and donation links Millions of people in Somalia are at risk of famine, with young children the most vulnerable to the worsening drought in the troubled Horn of Africa nation, UN agencies warned on Tuesday. "Somalia is facing famine conditions as a perfect storm of poor rain, skyrocketing food prices and huge funding shortfalls leaves almost 40 percent of Somalis on the brink," the agencies said in a statement. Many parts of Somalia are being ravaged by drought that has also taken hold in other countries in the region including Ethiopia and Kenya, but the UN agencies warned of a major funding shortfall to address the crisis and avoid a repeat of the 2011 famine. "We are literally about to start taking food from the hungry to feed the starving," the UN World Food Programme's Somalia representative El-Khidir Daloum said in a statement, describing the country as "on the cusp of a humanitarian catastrophe". Six million Somalis or 40 percent of the population are now facing extreme levels of food insecurity, according to a new report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, almost a two-fold increase since the beginning of the year, the agencies said. The joint statement by the WFP, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the humanitarian agency OCHA and the United Nations Children's Fund said "pockets of famine conditions" were likely in six areas of Somalia. They said children under the age of five were the most vulnerable, with access to food and milk scarce because of rising commodity prices and livestock issues. About 1.4 million children face acute malnutrition through the end of the year, with around one quarter facing severe acute malnutriton, the statement said. Together, humanitarian agencies had been able to supply aid to almost two million people but the UN warned of a "critical gap" in donor funding, with a 2022 plan seeking $1.5 billion reaching only 4.4 percent of the target. In the 2011 famine, 260,000 people -- half of them children under the age of six -- died of hunger or hunger-related disorders. Natural disasters -- not conflict -- have in recent years been the main drivers of displacement in Somalia, a war-torn nation that ranks among the world's most vulnerable to climate change. UN emergency fund injects 10 mln USD to help Somalia cope with drought.  NAIROBI, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- A radical overhaul of existing agricultural policies combined with smart investments, research and technology adoption will be key to ending the hunger crisis in the Horn of African region, ministers said Friday. Speaking at a forum convened by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development(IGAD), an East African bloc, in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, the ministers stressed that eradicating food insecurity in the region hinged on a speedy transition to climate-smart and commercially-driven farming systems. Abu Bakr Omer Elbushra, Sudan's Minister for Agriculture and Forests, observed that meeting the rising demand for food in the drought-prone Horn of Africa region required policy reforms, robust funding, and adoption of improved crops. Elbushra added that agricultural mechanization through irrigation, adoption of certified seeds, application of fertilizer and modern post-harvest storage technologies will boost food and nutrition security in the region. The Nairobi forum attended by senior policymakers from the eight IGAD member states, donors and humanitarian actors discussed strategic interventions required to end the spiraling hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa region. Workneh Gebeyehu, the executive secretary of IGAD noted that climatic shocks, civil strife, desert locust invasion and the Ukraine crisis had escalated hunger and malnutrition in the region, to the detriment of long-term growth and stability. According to Gebeyehu, over 51 million or 20 percent of the population in seven out of eight IGAD member states are estimated to be highly food insecure, with a further 388,000 at risk of starvation. He added that over 10 million children in the region are suffering from acute malnutrition adding that scaling up humanitarian support for drought victims was urgent to avert fatalities. Gebeyehu stressed that a long-term solution to the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa region was dependent on investments in early warning, joint research, knowledge sharing and a shift to climate-resilient agriculture. Ahmed Madobe Nunow, Somalia's Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation, said that investments in resilient food systems were paramount given the recurrence of droughts in the Horn of Africa region coupled with rapid population growth. In addition, Nunow said that countries in the region should leverage private sector investments, research and training to revamp agricultural systems in the face of climate and human-induced threats. Lawrence Omuhaka, the Chief Administrative Secretary in Kenya's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries said that investing in climate-resilient subsistence farming and pastoralism could minimize hunger crises in the Horn of Africa region. Enditem, https://www.gulf-times.com/story/714390/Millions-of-Somalis-at-risk-of-famine-UN-agencies WFP seeks 418 mln USD to ramp up aid in Horn of Africa amid famine threats:  NAIROBI, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The World Food Programme (WFP) said Friday some 418 million U.S. dollars are urgently needed over the next six months to scale up assistance in the Horn of Africa as levels of hunger soar after back-to-back droughts and the threat of famine looms. WFP said the severe drought across the Horn of Africa is expected to continue in the coming months, with a fifth poor rainy season forecast later this year. "There is still no end in sight to this drought crisis, so we must get the resources needed to save lives and stop people plunging into catastrophic levels of hunger and starvation," WFP Executive Director David Beasley said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. Since the start of the year, nine million more people have slipped into severe food insecurity across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, leaving 22 million people struggling to find enough food to eat, WFP said. Beasley on Thursday wrapped up a visit to drought-ravaged Somalia, where over seven million people - close to half the nation's population - are acutely food insecure and 213,000 are already facing famine-like conditions. Beasley visited the southern city of Bardhere and met families, including malnourished children and their mothers who were forced to leave their homes and travel long distances through conflict-wracked areas in search of humanitarian assistance. "People here have been waiting years for rain, but they cannot wait any longer for life-saving food assistance. The world needs to act now to protect the most vulnerable communities from the threat of widespread famine in the Horn of Africa," said Beasley. WFP said it's tripling the number of people reached with life-saving food assistance in the Bardhere area, which hosts tens of thousands of people driven from their homes by drought and conflict. During the 2016/17 drought in the Horn of Africa, WFP said, a catastrophe was avoided through early action, noting that humanitarian assistance was scaled up before there was widespread hunger, saving lives and averting a devastating famine. Beasley said WFP is targeting 8.5 million people across the Horn of Africa, up from 6.3 million at the start of the year. WFP at the start of 2022 warned that 13 million people in the Horn of Africa were facing acute food insecurity due to the drought. By mid-year, with the fourth consecutive failure of rains, that number increased to 20 million and now, the number is projected to rise again to at least 22 million by September. "This number will continue to climb, and the severity of hunger will deepen if the next rainy season (October to December) fails and the most vulnerable people do not receive humanitarian relief. Needs will remain high into 2023 and famine is now a serious risk, particularly in Somalia," WFP said. Enditem. WHO appeals for 123.7 mln USD to respond to health needs in Horn of Africa:  NAIROBI, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) has appealed for 123.7 million U.S. dollars to respond to the urgent health needs of millions of people in the greater Horn of Africa facing an acute food crisis until December. The funds will go toward urgent measures to protect lives, including shoring up the capacity of countries to detect and respond to disease outbreaks, procuring and ensuring the supply of life-saving medicines and equipment, identifying and filling gaps in health care provisions, and providing treatment to sick and severely malnourished children, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement issued in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi on Tuesday evening. "WHO is looking to the international community to support our work on the ground responding to this dual threat, providing treatment for malnourished people, and defending them against infectious diseases," the WHO director-general said. According to WHO, more than 80 million people in the seven countries spanning the region - Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda - are estimated to be food insecure, with upward of 37.5 million people classified as being in a stage of crisis where people have to sell their possessions to feed themselves and their families, and where malnutrition is rife. The Horn of Africa region, beset by conflict, changes in climate, and the COVID-19 pandemic, has become a hunger hotspot with devastating consequences for the health and lives of its people.WHO said it has already released 16.5 million dollars from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies to ensure people have access to health services, treat sick children with severe malnutrition, and prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. It warned that the situation is worsening with the upcoming rainy season expected to fail amid reports of avoidable deaths among children and women in childbirth. Michael Ryan, executive director of WHO's Health Emergencies Program, said services like therapeutic feeding programs, primary health care, immunization, safe deliveries, and mother and child services can be the difference between life and death for those caught up in these awful circumstances. "Ensuring people have enough to eat is central. Ensuring that they have safe water is central. But in situations like these, access to basic health services is also central," Ryan said. Enditem. Global charity provides 28.5 mln USD to 19 countries hit by drought:  NAIROBI, July 5 (Xinhua) -- A global charity on Tuesday announced 28.5 million U.S. dollars to help families in 19 countries, mostly in Africa, facing the worst global hunger crisis in decades. "The combined impact of conflicts, climate change, COVID, and the cost of inflating food prices has left up to 750,000 people facing famine conditions in Africa," Gabriella Waaijman, Save the Children's Humanitarian Director, said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. Save the Children said that 19 countries where extreme hunger threatens to claim thousands of children's lives are Afghanistan, Myanmar, DRC, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Colombia, Venezuela, Haiti, Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon. The charity warned that a further 49 million people could soon follow unless they receive immediate support, noting that failure to act now will prove catastrophic and could cost thousands of lives. According to the charity, the number of people going hungry daily has doubled to 276 million from 135 million in the past two years, and now up to 750,000 people are facing famine conditions in five countries as drought collides with conflict and COVID-19. The charity said the Horn of Africa has been crippled by drought after four consecutive failed rainy seasons with 18.4 million people facing acute food insecurity, raising fears about a repeat of 2011 when a lack of intervention led to famine in Somalia that killed 260,00 people, of whom half were children aged under 5. Waaijman said malnutrition caused by extreme hunger remains one of the biggest killers of young children globally yet it is entirely preventable. She called on donors to join in and provide additional, flexible funding to support the scale-up of urgent lifesaving services to the most at-risk communities. Enditem http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2022-07/06/content_78307061.htm, UN Security Council convenes to address food insecurity, calls for global cooperation  The UN Security Council met on Thursday to address food insecurity and called on the international community to strengthen cooperation to solve it. "When war is waged, people go hungry," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council during a debate on conflict and food security chaired by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Some 60 percent of the world's undernourished people live in areas affected by conflict, the top UN official said, adding that "no country is immune." Last year, most of the 140 million people suffering acute hunger around the world lived in just 10 countries: Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen - eight of which are on the council's agenda. "Let there be no doubt: when this council debates conflict, you debate hunger. When you make decisions about peacekeeping and political missions, you make decisions about hunger. And when you fail to reach consensus, hungry people pay a high price," Guterres said. Despite being pleased to announce that the Central Emergency Response Fund is releasing 30 million U.S. dollars to meet food security needs in Niger, Mali, Chad, and Burkina Faso, the UN chief said sadly: "But it is a drop in the ocean." Guterres expressed concern over food insecurity in the Horn of Africa, which is experiencing its worst drought in four decades, affecting more than 18 million people, while in Ethiopia and Somalia, continued conflict and insecurity plague the people. At the moment, 44 million people in 38 countries are at emergency levels of hunger, known as IPC 4 - just one step away from famine. More than half a million people in Ethiopia, South Sudan, Yemen, and Madagascar are already suffering from IPC level 5: catastrophic or famine conditions. "The war in Ukraine is now adding a frightening new dimension to this picture of global hunger," said the secretary-general. Guterres outlined four steps that countries can take to stop "the deadly dynamic of conflict and hunger," beginning with investing in political solutions to end conflicts, prevent new ones, and build sustainable peace. "Most important of all, we need to end the war in Ukraine," he said, calling on the Security Council to do everything in its power "to silence the guns and promote peace, in Ukraine and everywhere." Secondly, he underscored the importance of protecting humanitarian access and essential goods and supplies for civilians, drawing attention to the members' "critical role in demanding adherence to international humanitarian law, and pursuing accountability when it is breached." Third, he said there needed to be "far greater coordination and leadership" to mitigate the interconnected risks of food insecurity, energy and financing, while reminding that "any meaningful solution to global food insecurity requires reintegrating Ukraine's agricultural production and the food and fertilizer production of Russia and Belarus into world markets - despite the war." Finally, it is "more necessary than ever" for donors to fully fund humanitarian appeals with official development assistance. "Diverting it to other priorities is not an option while the world is on the brink of mass hunger ... Feeding the hungry is an investment in global peace and security," said the secretary-general. In a world of plenty, no one should accept "a single child, woman or man" dying from hunger, including "the members of this council," he concluded. David Beasley, chief of the World Food Programme, spoke extensively about "the perfect storm" that drives hunger, including conflict, climate change, and the COVID pandemic. He cited destabilizing dynamics in Mali, Chad, Malawi, and Burkina Faso; riots and protests in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Pakistan and Peru; conflicts in Ethiopia and Afghanistan; drought and famine in Africa, and a "ring of fire around the world" as an escalating number of people continue "marching to starvation." "Food security is critical to peace and stability" globally, he underscored. And while the "perfect storm" has resulted in a rise in food prices in 2022, he said food availability would be the big concern in 2023. Beasley stressed the importance of increasing production, opening Ukraine's ports and emptying its silos to stabilize markets and address the global food crisis. Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) Director-General Qu Dongyu discussed the importance of people, peace, prosperity and the planet. "Worldwide, prosperity is being reversed," he said. "There is less food security, health security and income" while inequality becomes greater. He pointed to a "spike in acute hunger globally," with 2022 threatening even further deterioration. While FAO has strengthened agri-food systems to save lives and protect livelihoods for the most vulnerable, "more needs to be done together," according to its top official, who called conflict "the single greatest driver of hunger." Qu reminded that we "are neighbors on this small planet village. What happens to one affects us all," and flagged the need to prevent accelerated acute food insecurity in the coming months and years. "We must protect people, agriculture food system and economics against future shock ... increase sustainable productivity, (and) strengthen the capacity to deliver relevant services," said Qu. Nobody needs to go hungry "if we all play our part," he added, describing investing in agri-food systems as "more relevant than ever." http://www.china.org.cn/world/2022-05/20/content_78228001.htm, Roundup: UN Security Council convenes to address food insecurity, calls for global cooperation  UNITED NATIONS, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council met on Thursday to address food insecurity and called on the international community to strengthen cooperation to solve it. "When war is waged, people go hungry," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council during a debate on conflict and food security chaired by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Some 60 percent of the world's undernourished people live in areas affected by conflict, the top UN official said, adding that "no country is immune." Last year, most of the 140 million people suffering acute hunger around the world lived in just 10 countries: Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen - eight of which are on the council's agenda. "Let there be no doubt: when this council debates conflict, you debate hunger. When you make decisions about peacekeeping and political missions, you make decisions about hunger. And when you fail to reach consensus, hungry people pay a high price," Guterres said. Despite being pleased to announce that the Central Emergency Response Fund is releasing 30 million U.S. dollars to meet food security needs in Niger, Mali, Chad, and Burkina Faso, the UN chief said sadly: "But it is a drop in the ocean." Guterres expressed concern over food insecurity in the Horn of Africa, which is experiencing its worst drought in four decades, affecting more than 18 million people, while in Ethiopia and Somalia, continued conflict and insecurity plague the people. At the moment, 44 million people in 38 countries are at emergency levels of hunger, known as IPC 4 - just one step away from famine. More than half a million people in Ethiopia, South Sudan, Yemen, and Madagascar are already suffering from IPC level 5: catastrophic or famine conditions. "The war in Ukraine is now adding a frightening new dimension to this picture of global hunger," said the secretary-general. Guterres outlined four steps that countries can take to stop "the deadly dynamic of conflict and hunger," beginning with investing in political solutions to end conflicts, prevent new ones, and build sustainable peace. "Most important of all, we need to end the war in Ukraine," he said, calling on the Security Council to do everything in its power "to silence the guns and promote peace, in Ukraine and everywhere." Secondly, he underscored the importance of protecting humanitarian access and essential goods and supplies for civilians, drawing attention to the members' "critical role in demanding adherence to international humanitarian law, and pursuing accountability when it is breached." Third, he said there needed to be "far greater coordination and leadership" to mitigate the interconnected risks of food insecurity, energy and financing, while reminding that "any meaningful solution to global food insecurity requires reintegrating Ukraine's agricultural production and the food and fertilizer production of Russia and Belarus into world markets - despite the war." Finally, it is "more necessary than ever" for donors to fully fund humanitarian appeals with official development assistance. "Diverting it to other priorities is not an option while the world is on the brink of mass hunger ... Feeding the hungry is an investment in global peace and security," said the secretary-general. In a world of plenty, no one should accept "a single child, woman or man" dying from hunger, including "the members of this council," he concluded. David Beasley, chief of the World Food Programme, spoke extensively about "the perfect storm" that drives hunger, including conflict, climate change, and the COVID pandemic. He cited destabilizing dynamics in Mali, Chad, Malawi, and Burkina Faso; riots and protests in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Pakistan and Peru; conflicts in Ethiopia and Afghanistan; drought and famine in Africa, and a "ring of fire around the world" as an escalating number of people continue "marching to starvation." "Food security is critical to peace and stability" globally, he underscored. And while the "perfect storm" has resulted in a rise in food prices in 2022, he said food availability would be the big concern in 2023. Beasley stressed the importance of increasing production, opening Ukraine's ports and emptying its silos to stabilize markets and address the global food crisis. Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) Director-General Qu Dongyu discussed the importance of people, peace, prosperity and the planet. "Worldwide, prosperity is being reversed," he said. "There is less food security, health security and income" while inequality becomes greater. He pointed to a "spike in acute hunger globally," with 2022 threatening even further deterioration. While FAO has strengthened agri-food systems to save lives and protect livelihoods for the most vulnerable, "more needs to be done together," according to its top official, who called conflict "the single greatest driver of hunger." Qu reminded that we "are neighbors on this small planet village. What happens to one affects us all," and flagged the need to prevent accelerated acute food insecurity in the coming months and years. "We must protect people, agriculture food system and economics against future shock ... increase sustainable productivity, (and) strengthen the capacity to deliver relevant services," said Qu. Nobody needs to go hungry "if we all play our part," he added, describing investing in agri-food systems as "more relevant than ever." Enditem http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2022-05/20/content_78227900.htm, Roundup: Horn of Africa experiencing one of its worst droughts in recent history:  NAIROBI, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Scattered on the five-acre farm in Bandari village, Kidemu sub-location in Kenya's coastal Kilifi County, were withered maize crops. "I planted the crops as soon as the rains started, but they stopped soon after. The crop has failed completely. We are facing hunger, I don't have anything to eat," Zawadi Msafiri, the farm owner told Xinhua at her farm recently. "I had 40 cows, 32 of them died because of drought. I also planted maize and the crop failed. We are barely surviving. I don't know what my children will eat next or if I will be able to take them to school," said 45-year-old Caroline in Kilifi, adding her cows were the main source of income for her family. Caroline observed that getting food has become harder, with her family mainly relying on relief food. "Most of the time we only drink porridge," she said. For Eliud Karisa, another Kilifi resident, he lost three of his cows and several goats to the ongoing drought. "I now have only four goats. There is neither food nor water. I can't even feed my children or take them to school," he said. If animal prices were good, he observed, he would sell the goats to cater to his needs but traders are buying at very low prices. "I can't sell, I better feed them some of the rations we receive hoping that it would rain and the price would increase once again," he said. Adam Ndamunga, an officer with Kenya National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) in Kilifi, said the drought situation in the region started in August 2021 and has been progressing due to inadequate rains. "We have lost some 9,500 animals due to lack of pasture and water. People require relief food. The situation is getting worse, if it does not rain we might experience severe drought," he said. Ndamunga noted up to 219,000 people in the area are currently facing acute hunger, up from 145,000 people last year. According to NDMA, the latest crisis has been fomented by failed October to December 2021 short rains, leading to poor crop production and low pasture and water resources for livestock. Sunny and dry weather conditions prevailed over most parts of the country during February. "We are not receiving adequate rains to plant crops like maize, which take seven months to mature. For the current forecast for Kilifi, we might get around 330mm of rainfall, down from 550mm in the past. We are, therefore, asking farmers to plant drought-resistant and early-maturing crops," said Ndamunga. About 3.1 million people in Kenya were in need of urgent food assistance and at least 1.5 million livestock had died, according to Short Rains Food and Nutrition Security assessment released by NDMA in February this year. To alleviate the hunger crisis, the Kenyan government has been distributing relief food, building water pans, trucking water for livestock and sending cash to vulnerable families. The United Nations relief agency said the Horn of Africa is experiencing one of its worst droughts in recent history, with more than 13 million people severely food insecure in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. "This drought risks becoming one of the worst climate-induced emergencies seen in recent history in the Horn of Africa," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned in its latest humanitarian update on March 23. It said families are taking desperate measures to survive, with thousands leaving their homes in search of food, water and pasture. According to the OCHA, the October-December 2020, March-May 2021 and October-December 2021 seasons were all marred by below-average rainfall, leaving large swathes of Somalia, southern and south-eastern Ethiopia, and northern and eastern Kenya facing exceptional drought. "Latest forecasts indicate that the March to May rainy season is likely to be average to below-average. If this season fails, it would result in an unprecedented (in the last 40 years) sequence of four below-normal rainfall seasons and major increases in food insecurity would be expected," OCHA warned. It said more action is urgently required to avert large-scale loss of life in the Horn of Africa in the period ahead and to enable communities to return to self-reliance and build resilience against future shocks. According to OCHA, humanitarian partners have appealed for more than 4.4 billion U.S. dollars to provide life-saving assistance and protection to about 29.1 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia in 2022. "We urgently call on donors to fund these appeals so that we can immediately respond to the life-threatening needs across the Horn of Africa. " OCHA said. Enditem http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2022-03/29/content_78137127.htm, WFP seeks 327 mln USD to tackle drought in Horn of Africa: he World Food Programme (WFP) Tuesday launched its regional drought response plan for the Horn of Africa, calling for 37.15 billion shillings (about 327 million U.S. dollars) to tackle severe drought in the region. Michael Dunford, regional director in the WFP Regional Bureau for Eastern Africa, said the funds will be used to respond to the immediate needs of about 4.5 million people over the next six months and help communities become more resilient to extreme climate shocks. "The situation requires immediate humanitarian action and consistent support to build the resilience of communities for the future," Dunford said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. WFP warned that the Horn of Africa is experiencing the driest conditions recorded since 1981, with severe drought leaving an estimated 13 million people across Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia facing severe hunger in the first quarter of this year. It said three consecutive failed rainy seasons have decimated crops and caused abnormally high livestock deaths. According to WFP, shortages of water and pasture are forcing families from their homes and leading to increased conflicts between communities. "Harvests are ruined, livestock are dying, and hunger is growing as recurrent droughts affect the Horn of Africa," Dunford said. WFP said further forecasts of below-average rainfall are threatening to worsen and compound dire conditions in the coming months. It said the drought has impacted pastoral and farmer populations across southern and southeastern Ethiopia, southeastern and northern Kenya and south-central Somalia. According to WFP, the impacts are compounded by increases in staple food prices, inflation, and low demand for agricultural labor. It said malnutrition rates also remain high across the region and could worsen if no immediate action is taken. "As needs across the Horn of Africa grow, immediate assistance is critical to avoid a major humanitarian crisis," WFP said. http://www.china.org.cn/world/2022-02/08/content_78035892.htm, WFP seeks 327 mln USD to tackle drought in Horn of Africa:  NAIROBI, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The World Food Programme (WFP) Tuesday launched its regional drought response plan for the Horn of Africa, calling for 37.15 billion shillings (about 327 million U.S. dollars) to tackle severe drought in the region. Michael Dunford, regional director in the WFP Regional Bureau for Eastern Africa, said the funds will be used to respond to the immediate needs of about 4.5 million people over the next six months and help communities become more resilient to extreme climate shocks. "The situation requires immediate humanitarian action and consistent support to build the resilience of communities for the future," Dunford said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. WFP warned that the Horn of Africa is experiencing the driest conditions recorded since 1981, with severe drought leaving an estimated 13 million people across Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia facing severe hunger in the first quarter of this year. It said three consecutive failed rainy seasons have decimated crops and caused abnormally high livestock deaths. According to WFP, shortages of water and pasture are forcing families from their homes and leading to increased conflicts between communities. "Harvests are ruined, livestock are dying, and hunger is growing as recurrent droughts affect the Horn of Africa," Dunford said. WFP said further forecasts of below-average rainfall are threatening to worsen and compound dire conditions in the coming months. It said the drought has impacted pastoral and farmer populations across southern and southeastern Ethiopia, southeastern and northern Kenya and south-central Somalia. According to WFP, the impacts are compounded by increases in staple food prices, inflation, and low demand for agricultural labor. It said malnutrition rates also remain high across the region and could worsen if no immediate action is taken. "As needs across the Horn of Africa grow, immediate assistance is critical to avoid a major humanitarian crisis," WFP said. Enditem http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2022-02/08/content_78035842.htm Xinhua Headlines: China's success in combating poverty offers hope to Africa:  by Xinhua writers Wang Xiaopeng and Naftali Mwaura, NAIROBI, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Deila Zerga has struggled to provide basic needs to her kids amid deprivation rampant in her low income dwelling area on the northern suburb of Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia. The 50-year-old mother of six found her bearing in August when the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA) gave her a cash donation of 4,720 Ethiopian Birr (about 131 U.S. dollars) to help relieve the family's financial hardships that have been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Zerga, who is heading an HIV positive household, had previously received cash donations twice from CFPA, which has been lending a helping hand to transform livelihoods of under-privileged households in the Ethiopian capital. "I bought a full dress with the first round of cash handout. The second round of cash came during the early days of COVID-19 outbreak in Ethiopia. I used it to buy food," Zerga told Xinhua during a recent interview. "The third round of cash handout came just as I was short of cash to buy teff (an Ethiopian staple crop). I'm happy the money came during this difficult period," Zerga added. Zerga's 11-year-old daughter Ekram Bashir was in high spirits as she recounted how the cash donations from CFPA fulfilled her desire to dress like her peers. "My mother has bought me shoes and clothes with the cash donation," said Bashir. The benevolence of CFPA has brought cheer to under-privileged households in Ethiopia since 2015, when the charity commenced operations in the Horn of Africa nation. Speaking to Xinhua, Daniel Worku, a project manager at CFPA, said the cash donation program to HIV positive households is a continuation of other pre-existing programs, including a school feeding project being done in various parts of Ethiopia. "In this project we give priority to those students who have HIV in their blood and also parents living in the same household who are HIV positive," Worku added. Worku said that with the COVID-19 pandemic forcing schools to be shut down, the cash donation to low income households serves as a kind of food security to households with children. VALUABLE EXPERIENCES FOR AFRICA:  The charitable activities of CFPA in Ethiopia, including support for school feeding programs, women empowerment and provision of clean water to households, mirror the view that China has bolstered efforts to eradicate poverty across the African continent. African leaders, policymakers and scholars said the continent is leveraging on robust cooperation with China to acquire capital, skills, technology and best practices required to back the war against deprivation. Namibia's President Hage Geingob said in a statement in early April that Namibia would like to draw lessons from China in poverty eradication, through closer bilateral cooperation and support. Geingob said the eradication of poverty and hunger in Namibia is a key policy objective of the Namibian government. "The Namibian economy has been severely affected by the outbreak of the coronavirus, which threatens our socio-economic stability, and the gains we have made to reverse poverty," Geingob added. The World Bank said in a report titled "Accelerating Poverty Reduction in Africa" that the share of Africans living in extreme poverty has fallen substantially, from 54 percent in 1990 to 41 percent in 2015, but due to high population growth during the same period, the number of poor people in Africa has actually increased from 278 million in 1990 to 413 million in 2015. According to the African Union, the COVID-19 crisis has increased poverty with the African Development Bank estimating that the pandemic will push between 28.2 million and 49.2 million more Africans into extreme poverty. China's development experience over the past decades offers key lessons to Africa, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said at the sixth African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development in Zimbabwe in February. "Just as China's remarkable achievements in lifting its people out of poverty contributed to major advances under the Millennium Development Goals (SDGs), so can Agenda 2063 have similar impacts on SDGs," said Mohammed. Agenda 2063 is Africa's strategic framework that aims to deliver on its goal for inclusive and sustainable development. Zimbabwe's Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing July Moyo said China's success in poverty alleviation offers valuable lessons for Zimbabwe as the country aims to attain a middle income status by 2030. "They (Chinese) were able to lift themselves out of poverty by using their own resources, by mobilizing their people, by using organizational methods that make sure that there is cohesiveness, that there is a sense of direction and strict adherence implementation guidelines," he said. The Nigerian government in 2019 set a 10-year target of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the most populous country on the continent. For Efem Ubi, a senior research fellow at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Nigeria can learn much from China in the process of poverty alleviation. Ubi said the question for African countries is how they can achieve Goal 1 of the SDGs, which aims to end poverty in all its forms by 2030. One way is to find out what lessons African countries can learn from China. Ubi said Africa can benefit from the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, because it will provide African countries with great opportunities to build their infrastructure as well as develop industrial capacity. AFRICA INSPIRED:  African officials hold that the phenomenal success of China's poverty alleviation initiative that hinges on political goodwill, reform and opening up to the outside world, inspires the continent. George Kwabena, a liaison officer at Ghana's Northern Development Authority, felt inspired during his visit to poverty-stricken areas in southwest China last year. "Actually, I was shocked by the infrastructure there, especially the transport connectivity, and the way the government resettled poor people is quite impressive," said Kwabena. "Through my trip, I learned grassroots officials in China have established standard databases for poor people, and that allows them to take targeted measures to alleviate poverty, which is a useful lesson for Ghana to learn," he said. The Ghanaian government has rolled out "One district, One Factory" policy in recent years, which aims to further open up its rural areas and woo more investors there. He praised China's innovative poverty alleviation efforts in developing rural communities through the use of e-commerce platforms. Raphael Tuju, secretary general of Kenya's ruling Jubilee Party and minister without portfolio, said he was impressed by China's achievement in lifting more than 700 million Chinese people out of poverty over the past few decades. "There is no precedent in the history of mankind. If China can achieve that, it gives us a flicker of hope and light at the end of the tunnel," he said. According to Tuju, his first encounter with China was when he was a child. He said, "The enduring image of China was mostly about the Chinese with straw hats in the rice fields." Afterwards, the picture about China was about streets with thousands of bicycles, he said. "But now, if you ask any Kenyan about China, the first thing is about the Standard Gauge Railway linking Mombasa and Nairobi, and Guangzhou, where the Kenyans go to buy clothes and other things they need." "There are problems of disease, problems of infrastructure and problems of poverty. Africa is just overloaded with problems," he said, adding that one of the biggest slums in Africa is in Nairobi. "But if you look at what has been achieved in China," Tuju said, "it gives us hope that something can be done in our lifetime." Enditem. http://www.china.org.cn/china/Off_the_Wire/2020-10/07/content_76783692.htm, East African bloc says food security in peril amid suppressed rains:  NAIROBI, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- The greater horn of the Africa region may not realize food and nutrition security for farmers and herders amid suppressed October to December rains, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) said in its latest weather forecast released in Nairobi on Wednesday. According to IGAD, a drier than usual season linked to the La Nina phenomenon is expected in large swathes of the east and horn of the Africa region in the last quarter of this year, hence posing risk to crops and pasture for livestock. "The drier than usual season might impact southern Ethiopia, northern and western Somalia, eastern and western regions of Kenya, northern Tanzania, and other sparse areas around the region," said IGAD. "For farming communities, this could lead to poorer than usual harvests, due to reduced rainfall when crops are at the reproduction stage," it added. The horn of African region is already battling multiple shocks like COVID-19, desert locust invasion, civil unrest and recurrent droughts that have undermined efforts to eradicate hunger and malnutrition. IGAD said the drier than usual weather is likely to last till January, thereby complicating efforts to feed vulnerable demographics like children and the elderly. "The resulting poor nutrition status may reduce the immunity of all age-groups, further complicating the vulnerability to the possible effects of COVID-19," said IGAD. It singled out nomadic communities as likely to bear the brunt of suppressed rains amid shortage of pasture and water for their livestock that could lead to widespread hunger and skirmishes. "The overall poor food and nutrition security could increase the levels of acute malnutrition among infants and young children. Atypical cross-border livestock migrations may spark resource-based conflicts," said IGAD. Statistics from IGAD indicate that currently, about 29.5 million people in the horn of African region are in urgent need of food assistance due to the negative impact of climatic shocks and COVID-19 pandemic. The bloc urged countries in the region to establish robust mitigation measures in order to avert a humanitarian crisis amid an extended drier than usual season. Enditem. http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2020-11/11/content_76900838.htm, Qatar pledges $12mn in aid in the Horn of Africa:  QNA / New York, Qatar has pledged $12mn in humanitarian aid in the Horn of Africa, noting that millions of people in this region are facing the threat of starvation and enormous challenges caused by the deteriorating conditions due to drought, food insecurity and malnutrition. This came in a speech delivered by HE Assistant Foreign Minister for Regional Affairs Dr Mohamed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh al-Khulaifi at the High Level Side Event: Responding to the Urgent Humanitarian Needs in the Horn of Africa. The event was hosted by Qatar alongside Italy, the United States and the United Kingdom, in co-operation with the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. In his speech HE al-Khulaifi said that the collapsed situation and the great humanitarian needs in the Horn of Africa require continuous commitment and urgent measures from the international community to reach those in dire need of aid, reduce risks, and enhance the resilience of the population; adding that this event constitutes an important opportunity to reaffirm unwavering support for the countries of the Horn of Africa as they struggle to meet its basic needs. He underlined that Qatar has been keen to co-operate with the international community in order to address humanitarian challenges, affirming that Qatar gives top priority to providing humanitarian and development assistance, especially in areas of greatest need. He explained that this approach constitutes an essential pillar of Qatar’s policy, pointing in this regard to its leading role in the field of providing humanitarian assistance, and undertaking many initiatives and efforts in this field, based on its moral responsibilities and obligations. HE al-Khulaifi expressed Qatar’s pride in being one of the most prominent countries that support the United Nations in many fields, pointing to the pledge of Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and its partners in 2021 to finance sustainable development and humanitarian relief, which has transformed the lives of people in 47 countries around the world, including countries of the Horn of Africa. In addition, QFFD, in co-operation with Qatar Red Crescent, has started to support the health, water, sanitation and hygiene sectors in Somalia for two years. In co-operation with a number of institutions in Qatar, QFFD is also financing and implementing many development projects in different sectors in Somalia, including infrastructure, education and economic empowerment, he added. HE al-Khulaifi also expressed Qatar’s pride in hosting the second part of the 5th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) from March 5 to 9, 2023; stressing the importance of strengthening the capacity of the least developed countries to face complex and unexpected emergencies, such as the ongoing crises in the Horn of Africa. He considered the conference an important opportunity to bring about a transformational change in the lives of those who live in the most vulnerable countries. HE the Assistant Foreign Minister for Regional Affairs underlined that solidarity and multilateral action have become more important than ever; adding that Qatar will remain deeply committed to harmonious humanitarian work, and it has a priority to maintain its great contribution to alleviating human suffering, especially for the most vulnerable groups. He expressed Qatar’s deep gratitude to all humanitarian workers who continue to work tirelessly to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to millions of people around the world, stressing that their commendable efforts represent an inspiration to everyone. https://www.gulf-times.com/story/724741/Qatar-pledges-12mn-in-aid-in-the-Horn-of-Africa, New Somalia PM gets unanimous endorsement  Somalia’s parliament yesterday unanimously endorsed Hamza Abdi Barre as new prime minister, paving the way for the creation of a new government for the fragile Horn of Africa nation. All 220 lawmakers present gave their blessing to Barre’s appointment, and he was then sworn in to office, the parliament speaker said. Barre 48, told parliament he would form a government that would focus on “creating inclusive political stability (in line with) the president’s motto of a reconciled Somalia that is at peace with the world”. Somalia’s new administration faces a raft of challenges including a looming famine and a grinding insurgency by the Al Shebaab jihadist group. “We shall form a capable government that pursues our nation’s developmental & humanitarian priorities reflecting our people’s needs,” Barre posted on Twitter. A crippling drought across the Horn of Africa has left about 7.1mn Somalis — nearly half the population — battling hunger, with more than 200,000 on the brink of starvation, according to UN figures. Barre, an MP from the semi-autonomous state of Jubaland was chosen earlier this month by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who was elected by parliament in May after a long-delayed and stormy voting process. “Our government has an ambitious policy programme which seeks to improve our security, strengthen our economy and deliver basic services for our people,” Mohamud said on Twitter after Barre was approved. “Let us move forward together.” There are hopes that Mohamud’s presidency will draw the line under a seething political crisis that blighted the rule of his predecessor Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, better known as Farmajo, and threatened to plunge the country back into violent chaos. Barre replaces Mohamed Hussein Roble, who was appointed in 2020 by Farmajo but then fell out with the former president over the delayed elections and other political and security issues. The African Union’s peacekeeping mission in Somalia known as ATMIS offered its congratulations to Barre, as did Roble, who called on all Somalis to support his successor. The 66-year-old president Mohamud did not appear at the parliamentary session after he said on Friday that he had tested positive for Covid-19. He made the announcement on Twitter after returning from the UAE, his first official trip abroad since his election, saying he had no symptoms but would continue to self-isolate. Mohamud is a former academic and peace activist who was previously president from 2012-2017 but whose first administration was dogged by claims of corruption and infighting.https://www.gulf-times.com/story/719975/New-Somalia-PM-gets-unanimous-endorsement |
eBook: Horn of Africa Hunger Crisis
