Horn of Africa: Washington promises 1.2 billion dollars to deal with the famine

An internally displaced Somali woman near a dead animal carcass due to recurrent severe droughts, in the Gedo region of Somalia, May 26, 2022. © FEISAL OMAR/REUTERS

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

A rain of dollars to ward off drought and famine.

Washington, via its humanitarian aid agency, USAID, will send cargoes of food, sorghum and food supplements for babies, in particular, to the countries of the Horn of Africa.

A total envelope of $1.2 billion is planned.

Advertising

Read more

18 million people need emergency aid, says Washington.

mainly hits Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.

Combined with soaring food prices following the war in Ukraine, this drought threatens to spread famine throughout the region.

This is the fifth drought in a row facing the countries of the Horn of Africa.

And for Samantha Power, the director of USAID, it is the most devastating.

Because it occurs

, and especially in the midst of soaring food prices, following the war in Ukraine.

USAID will therefore provide direct food assistance.

Shipments of sorghum, a cereal more abundant in Africa than wheat, but also food supplements for adults and children.

Help local farmers

Of the 18 million people who suffer from hunger in the region, seven million children are severely malnourished.

For Samantha Power, combating famine also means helping rural families buy products on local markets, and part of the funds released will be given in cash to poor families.

Similarly, farmers will receive grants of seeds and fodder, as well as veterinary aid, as the drought has decimated herds.

USAID calls on other rich countries to follow suit.

A message addressed primarily to China.

Because Washington blames Beijing for its restrictions on the export of fertilizers and the large stockpiling of its cereals which are driving up world prices a little more.

►Also listen: 

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_EN

• Horn of Africa

• Humanitarian

• Feed

• Natural disasters

• Somalia

• Kenya

• Ethiopia

• United States