This archive report was first published on 26 August 2019.
Published on August 26, 2019, the European Commission has mobilised $55.9 million for emergency humanitarian funding to help people affected by drought in four countries in the Horn of Africa.
The largest portion of the humanitarian aid package goes to Somalia, with $27.9 million allocated to support drought-affected communities. Ethiopia will receive $22.3 million, Kenya $3.3 million, and Uganda $2.2 million to combat famine.
According to estimates, 13 million people need emergency food assistance due to the drought caused by two consecutive poor rain seasons. The $55.9 million will enable humanitarian agencies to scale up their action in the hardest-hit areas.
The emergency funding brings the total European Union humanitarian aid to the region to $410 million since 2018. This year's rain season in the Horn of Africa was among the top three driest on record, with the ongoing drought coming just a year after the end of a major drought in 2016-2017.
EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Mr Christos Stylianides, stated that the European Commission is stepping up support for the people affected by the prolonged drought in the Horn of Africa.
“I have seen first-hand how much climate extremes are affecting this part of Africa. Our funding will help extend humanitarian assistance in the affected areas, helping communities ward off the risk of famine,” he said.
The latest aid package will be used for emergency food assistance, the provision of basic health services, treatment of severe acute malnutrition in children under five years of age, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. The money will also protect households' livelihoods, improve water access for both human and livestock consumption.
