Increase in U.S. Funding to Drought Relief in the Horn of Africa
Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
April 5, 2012
The United States continues to be deeply concerned by the humanitarian emergency in the Horn of Africa, and particularly the hard-hit Somali population. Despite the end of famine conditions in February, nearly 10 million people in the region still require humanitarian assistance. For this reason, the United States Government is providing an additional nearly $50 million in aid for refugees and drought-affected communities in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya in addition to what we have already provided. As Secretary Clinton announced April 3rd, since early in 2011 “the United States has provided almost $1 billion in humanitarian assistance that has saved countless lives from malnutrition, starvation, and disease. And our sustained commitment has demonstrated the best of America, helping to undermine the extremist narrative of terrorist groups like al-Shabaab in Somalia.”
The Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET) stated April 3, 2012 that the March-May rains in the eastern Horn of Africa will not be adequate. Poor rains would likely negatively affect food security in a region still recovering from a devastating drought and famine in 2011. The United States remains committed to breaking the cycle of hunger and famine in the Horn of Africa and to this end will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to those in need and call on others to join it in supporting the UN’s $1.5 billion 2012 Consolidated Appeal for Somalia. This appeal is currently funded at only $179 million. We encourage all donors to take additional steps to tackle both immediate assistance needs and strengthen capacity in the region to mitigate future crises.
In addition to our emergency assistance, the United States is leading efforts to address the root causes of hunger and food insecurity by improving agricultural systems in the Horn of Africa under the Feed the Future initiative. As part of these efforts, yesterday in Nairobi, Kenya USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah participated in a high-level forum on strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities to drought in the Horn of Africa. The forum brings together African and international development leaders who are committed to working together in new ways to prevent future humanitarian crises related to drought.
DipNote: The Week in Review
![Libyans hold a huge flag as they celebrate overrunning the main Muammar Gadhafi compound Bab Al-Aziziya in Tripoli, Libya, on August 24, 2011. [AP Photo]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2011_0828_libya_flag_m.jpg)
About the Author: Sarah Goldfarb serves as DipNote’s Associate Editor.
On August 22, 2011, President Barack Obama delivered remarks on the situation in Libya. In a statement, the President said, “…The momentum against the Qadhafi regime has reached a tipping point.” The President continued, “… The Qaddafi regime is coming to an end, and the future of Libya is in the hands of its people.”
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton issued a statement on the situation in Libya. The Secretary addressed her conversation with the Chair of the Transitional National Council, Mustafa Mohammed Abdul Jalil, and… more »
More: Crisis in the Horn of Africa | How You Can Help
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered remarks on the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) on August 11, 2011. Secretary Clinton discussed the ongoing international humanitarian response, as well as how the crisis in the Horn of Africa shows the urgency of investing in sustained food security through efforts such as Feed the Future, the U.S. Government’s global hunger and food security initiative.
Secretary… more »
Secretary Clinton To Deliver Remarks on Humanitarian Crisis in the Horn of Africa
![A child carries a water jug, part of a bundle of supplies given to refugee families after they register, at the Dagahaley refugee camp, in Dadaab, Kenya, on August 8, 2011. [Official White House Photo by David Lienemann]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2011_0811_horn_of_africa_m.jpg)
More: Crisis in the Horn of Africa | How You Can Help
Join Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton as she delivers remarks on the Humanitarian Crisis in the Horn of Africa at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) at approximately 11:00 a.m. (EDT) on August 11, 2011. Secretary Clinton will discuss the ongoing international humanitarian response, as well as how the crisis in the Horn of Africa shows the urgency of investing in sustained food security through efforts such as Feed the Future, the U.S. Government’s global hunger and food security initiative. You can watch the event streamed live here.
Day Two: On the Ground in the Horn of Africa
About the Author: Dr. Rajiv Shah is the Administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Earlier this week, I visited the world’s largest refugee camp in Kenya, where thousands of exhausted and starving refugees have sought food, water and medical care after fleeing from famine-stricken lands in southern Somalia. The United States is providing life-saving help for millions of people across the eastern Horn of Africa, as the region experiences its worst drought in 60 years.
Although we will always provide aid in times of urgent need, emergency assistance is not a long-term solution. To address the root causes of hunger and malnutrition, we need to invest in agriculture, build strong markets and harness advances in science and technology. Spearheaded by USAID, President Obama’s food security initiative — Feed the Future — is helping countries develop their own agricultural sectors so they… more »
Secretary Clinton To Deliver Remarks on the Humanitarian Crisis in the Horn of Africa on August 11
Notice to the Press
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
August 9, 2011
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will deliver remarks on the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) at approximately 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 11, 2011.
Secretary Clinton will discuss the ongoing international humanitarian response, as well as how the crisis in the Horn of Africa shows the urgency of investing in sustained food security through efforts such as Feed the Future, the U.S. Government’s global hunger and food security initiative.
Secretary Clinton’s remarks will be open to credentialed members of the media and live-streamed here. Media should RSVP to m.pietrowski@cgiar.org. Press access times will be forthcoming in the public schedule.
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
2033 K St, NW
Washington, DC 20006
IFPRI is a research institute that seeks sustainable solutions to ending global poverty and hunger, and is a major research partner for Feed the Future.
PRESS CONTACTS:
U.S. Department of State
Office of Press Relations
(202) 647-2492
International Food Policy Research Institute
Media Relations
Michele Pietrowski
m.pietrowski@cgiar.org
Assistant Secretary Schwartz Highlights Dr. Biden’s Visit to Kenya
![During an official White House organized visit, Dr. Jill Biden, wife of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, sits with Somali refugees at a UNHCR screening center on the outskirts of Ifo camp outside Dadaab, eastern Kenya, 60 miles from the Somali border, August 8, 2011. [AP File Photo]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2011_0809_biden-kenya_m.jpg)
Over the weekend, Dr. Jill Biden led a delegation to Kenya to view firsthand the situation on the ground. Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration Eric Schwartz, who accompanied Dr. Biden with Special Assistant to the President Gayle Smith and Senator Bill Frist, discussed the trip and overall U.S. assistant efforts in the region on August 9, 2011, via teleconference.
Assistant Secretary Schwartz said, “The Dadaab refugee complex in the — in northeast Kenya is the host to — was already the host to a very large and protracted refugee population on the order of 300,000 refugees or more. And for that and the management of that relief effort over many, many years and the assistance of the management, we’re very grateful to the Government of Kenya that has provided refuge to Somalis.
“But what they’ve seen in recent months is… more »
On the Ground in the Horn of Africa
![USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah speaks with recently arrived women and children at Dadaab camp in Kenya, July 20, 2011. [L. Meserve/USAID]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/Shah_1_m.jpg)
About the Author: Dr. Rajiv Shah is the Administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development.
More: Crisis in the Horn of Africa
Eighty kilometers from Kenya’s border with Somalia, the Dadaab Refugee Complex — already the world’s largest refugee camp — has seen on average 1,500 exhausted and starving men, women and children arrive each day. Fleeing from famine that is now gripping a large portion of southern Somalia largely inaccessible to aid workers, thousands of refugees have walked days — or even weeks — to reach help. The United Nations estimates that over 12.4 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian aid, including food, water and medical care, across the drought-stricken eastern Horn of Africa.
Yesterday, I arrived in Dadaab with representatives from across the United States Government, including Dr. Jill Biden, Special Assistant to the… more »
DipNote: The Week in Review
![U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton shakes hands with Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird at the State Department in Washington, August 4, 2011. [AP File Photo]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2011_0808_canada-us_m.jpg)
About the Author: Sarah Goldfarb serves as DipNote’s Associate Editor.
Today, Ambassador Ford addressed the situation in Syria in an interview with Christiane Amanpour of ABC’s This Week. He said, “…My whole purpose in being in Syria is to be able to communicate not only with the Syrian Government but with the Syrian people more generally…It’s important to bear witness to what the Syrian Government is doing. In that kind of environment, where the international press, international television, can’t move around freely, it is really important for diplomats to be able to move around, to understand what the Syrian Government is doing on the ground. The Syrian Government does not tell the truth. They said there were armed gangs in Hama. Well, the only weapon I saw was a slingshot. So it’s important to bear witness and it’s important to relay… more »
