UK announces new support for people facing famine in Horn of Africa
UK Development Minister Vicky Ford has announced a new package of support for people affected by the worst drought in decades in the Horn of Africa.
![UK Development Minister Vicky Ford](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/632b3076d3bf7f75bf16fdc1/s300_vicky-ford-development-minister.jpg)
Speaking at an event on the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Horn of Africa at the UN General Assembly in New York, Ford announced £22.8 million to enable the UN and our NGO partners to continue lifesaving assistance through cash support; access to water and sanitation services; and the delivery of highly specialised health and nutrition treatment.
Ford called on the international community to act now to avert disaster, as concerns rise that a projected famine in Somalia could be worse than in 2011, when a quarter of a million people lost their lives.
Minister Ford said:
The drought in the Horn of Africa is one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. Almost half of Somalia’s population is in dire need of help – with 300,000 people forecast to be in famine by October if assistance is not provided immediately.
The UK is playing a leading role in the international response to this crisis. We are providing vital life-saving food security, health, nutrition and water support to half a million people across Somalia, backed up by the funding announced today.
If we are to avoid a repeat of the catastrophic drought which saw a quarter of million people die in Somalia a decade ago, the international community must act now.
This package of support takes the UK’s total humanitarian, health and nutrition funding for Somalia this financial year up to £52.8 million.
The UK has allocated a total of £156 million in humanitarian support for crises in East Africa this financial year.
Background
Earlier this year in April, the UK announced a £25 million package for humanitarian, health and nutrition programming in Somalia as well as a further £5 million of humanitarian aid as part of a package for World Humanitarian Day (Friday 19 August).
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