Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking (1) to prevent people's (a) lives, and (b) livelihoods, being affected by the drought in the Horn of Africa, and (2) to tackle the underlying causes of (i) conflict, and (ii) climate change, in that region.

The UK is deeply concerned by the worsening humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa. In January, the Minister for Africa announced a £17 million package of emergency humanitarian assistance to address critical needs in Ethiopia (£5 million), South Sudan (£3 million), Somalia (£8 million) and Kenya (£1 million). In February, a further £5.5 million of support was allocated for Somalia, and in March a further £1.6 million to support the drought response in Ethiopia.

Our response to the drought builds on long-established resilience building programmes in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. In Kenya this includes support to the Hunger Safety Programme. This has provided 600,000 people in drought prone regions with regular financial assistance alongside efforts to promote strengthened national disaster management capacity. In Ethiopia, the UK funded Productive Safety Net Programme benefitted some 8 million people via financial welfare provision and community public works projects, which promote soil and water conservation.

The UK remains committed to promoting peace and security across the Horn of Africa.