Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking the help (a) reduce the risk of future drought in East Africa and (b) build resilience in those countries to mitigate future hunger.

In Financial Year 2022/23, the UK will be providing approximately £156 million to East Africa in humanitarian aid. Our support is providing millions of people with essential services and supplies including food, water and healthcare. In Somalia, to alleviate the impact of drought and address the risk of famine, since 1 April 2022 the UK has allocated £52.8 million in humanitarian, protection, health and nutrition support.

The UK is also building on our past investments to help the region become more resilient. We have come together with the Ethiopian Government on the Productive Safety Net Programme, helping 8 million people in drought prone areas of the country. In Kenya, a similar programme in drought-prone areas has reached over half a million people. In Somalia, the UK provided £17.4 million in climate financing in the last financial year. This supported over 570,000 people to cope with the impacts of climate change. In South Sudan we are also increasing the capacity of vulnerable households to cope with climate shocks and stresses, and improve their security through regular and predictable cash transfers.