Horn of Africa: Food

(asked on 27th June 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment he has made of the level of food security throughout the greater Horn of Africa in September 2019; and what steps his Department is taking to prepare for potential emergency assistance in that region during that month.


Answered by
Harriett Baldwin Portrait
Harriett Baldwin
This question was answered on 2nd July 2019

DFID is concerned by deteriorating levels of food security in the Horn of Africa. This is largely a result of poor rainfall across much of the region and political instability and insecurity, including in Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia and South Sudan.

The UK is a world leader in supporting those at risk of food insecurity, and has taken early action across the region to save lives. This includes £8 million of additional support in Somalia to support emergency interventions and resilience, and £12 million in Ethiopia to support cash transfers to meet emergency food needs. In Sudan, DFID has contributed £30 million this fiscal year to humanitarian interventions. DFID will continue to monitor the situation closely and press the international community to commit further support where it is needed.

DFID will also continue to support communities and states in the Horn to build resilience to crises and shocks. Our work on humanitarian early warning systems raises awareness of crises where food security is deteriorating, and we prioritise longer-term responses to support food security, including through agricultural programmes.

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