Food security in Horn of Africa: EU steps up support to drought-affected countries

28 Apr 2022 12:04 AM

A devastating climate-induced drought is affecting the Horn of Africa. The situation is worsened by the impact of COVID-19, conflict and insecurity situation in the region, as well as the expected aggravation of food insecurity and nutrition due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The European Commission is therefore reinforcing its political and financial commitment to partner countries in the region.

Today a total of €348 million in EU funding for 2022 to boost food security in the Horn of Africa was announced at a high-level roundtable co-hosted by the European Commission and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva. Funding includes humanitarian assistance and longer term support to tackle root causes of food insecurity including climate adaptation and mitigation measures.

EU funding to support food security

Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, recently said:

“The humanitarian consequences of the historical drought affecting the Horn of Africa in countries like Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia are dramatic. Millions of people are already affected by the drought and in need of life-saving assistance. In addition, the dependency on Ukrainian and Russian imports already adversely impacts food availability and affordability in this region. The time to act is now. The international community, humanitarian and development partners, national authorities and communities must save as many lives as possible and work together in a sustained effort to address the emergency and build future resilience.”

Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, added:

“With the Horn of Africa region facing the worst climate-induced droughts in recent history, the impact of economic shocks related to COVID 19 and of conflicts and insecurity, the food security of the region is at stake. With our partners and the international community, in a multilateral approach, we must fund structural policies addressing the underlying causes of food and nutrition crises and make vulnerable people more resilient to shocks. The best way we can work together is through the humanitarian, development, and peace nexus. The new EU Global Gateway strategy will contribute to this work.”

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