United States Representative to United Nations, Linda Thomas- Greenfield has announced through the U.S. Agency for International Development, provision of more than 41 million dollars in funding to save lives and meet humanitarian needs in Somalia.
Thomas-Greenfield who was on an official visit to the country, during a speech on food security in Mogadishu, she said “humanitarian situation in Somalia is as dire as any in the world right now,” adding that the combination of the climate crisis; the supply chain crisis sparked by COVID; and conflicts, like the one caused by al-Shabaab, has brought that horrific word back to Somalia famine.
According to her, “Famine is the ultimate failure of the international community. In a world abundant with food, entire communities should never, ever starve to death. I refuse to accept that failure. When the longest drought in Somalia’s record led to initial famine projections, the United States took action”, she said.
Since the beginning of 2022’s fiscal year, the United States has provided 1.3 billion dollars of life-saving assistance to Somalia. U.S. funding last year accounted for more than 80 percent of the World Food Program’s emergency operations in the Horn of Africa. Four times greater than the contributions of all other countries combined.
That aid has brought food, water, and shelter to the Somali people. As the United States surges support, it continues to work with all levels of Somalia’s government to increase security, and ensure humanitarian and development resources reach communities recently liberated from al-Shabaab.
This new assistance comes as the drought intensifies following a fifth failed rainy season, putting people at risk of further devastation and despair.
Today’s new funding bolsters U.S. famine prevention efforts with a targeted focus on addressing extreme food gaps, treating severe malnutrition in women and children, and combating the current outbreak of deadly diseases like measles and cholera.
Thomas-Greenfield had earlier spoke with the Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, expressed support for his efforts to foster reconciliation and advance the political, economic, and security reforms necessary for Somalia’s lasting stability.
She also reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to supporting Somali-led counter-terrorism efforts while discussed with the President the ongoing humanitarian emergency and the need to diversify international donor support to prevent famine and save lives.