AFRICA ( Commonwealth Union) _ UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged nations to increase their financial support to the Horn of Africa, which is currently experiencing the most severe drought in many generations. According to the United Nations, over 43 million people in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya are in urgent need of life-saving assistance.
Guterres emphasized that without a significant and immediate infusion of funds, emergency operations will cease, leading to loss of lives. During a conference in New York, where global governments gathered to raise $7 billion for the region, Guterres expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that only 20 percent of the UN’s humanitarian response plan for the area has been funded thus far.
The Horn of Africa, including Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya, has been grappling with the worst drought in forty years due to consecutive failed rainy seasons, resulting in widespread suffering, agricultural and livestock devastation, and acute food insecurity for more than 23.5 million people in the region. In Somalia alone, 3.8 million people have been displaced, and 6.7 million struggle to access food.
Moreover, over half a million children are severely malnourished. UN officials attribute the rising death toll from hunger in Africa to the exacerbating effects of climate change and conflicts. Guterres stressed that the people in the region are facing the consequences of a climate crisis they bear no responsibility for and emphasized the need for solidarity, assistance, and hope for the future. Immediate measures are required to ensure their survival, along with sustained efforts to help communities in the Horn of Africa adapt and develop resilience to climate change.
The British-based NGO Islamic Relief Worldwide contributed $18 million during the summit and urged world leaders to intensify their response to the crisis.
