Washington DC, 14 June 2022 (TDI): The United States, through USAID, is providing roughly $105 million in crucial humanitarian aid to the Horn of Africa. The intent of humanitarian aid is to provide urgent support to those who are most in need.
This is in response to the terrible drought in the Horn of Africa, which is threatening the lives of millions of people. The region is experiencing its fourth consecutive failed rainy season, with drought conditions worsening.
Hundreds of thousands of people in the Horn of Africa are at risk of starvation as a result of the current situation. There are expectations that the fifth rainy season will be drier than the previous four. This would cause disaster for the livelihoods of families who rely on crops and cattle for sustenance.
As a result, more than 16 million people are in desperate need of humanitarian aid. There are predictions that by September, the number of individuals in need of aid will reach historic heights, with up to 20 million people in need.
Therefore, these additional funds will allow USAID partners to offer life-saving food aid. It will allow the organization to fund health and nutrition services as well as clean water access.
The funds will also go toward protection activities like safe places and case management for women and girls displaced by the drought.
In addition, Russia’s assault on Ukraine is exacerbating an already terrible food crisis in the Horn of Africa. Food, fuel, and fertilizer prices have already skyrocketed as a result of the war, and shortages have worsened.
Drought situation in the Horn of Africa
Similarly, other Middle Eastern and African regions, including the Horn of Africa, are no longer able to import essential wheat and other crops from Ukraine. This is owing to Russia’s unjustified aggression, which threatens the lives of millions of women, men, and children.
If they do not locate enough food to eat, they will perish. Also, about 70% of Somalia’s grain comes from Ukraine, and nearly 10% of Kenya’s grain comes from there.
The United States is the largest single supplier of humanitarian aid to the Horn of Africa. Since the start of Fiscal Year 2022, it has donated more than $507 million to the region.
However, additional support from other donors is urgently required. The US administration is pushing foreign donors to increase vitally needed aid in light of the severity of the drought and the scope of humanitarian needs.
Moreover, this will avoid starvation and save millions of people’s lives. On its own, the United States will not be able to meet the region’s needs. To minimize more agony and substantial loss of life, the donor community must band together.
