9.5m people still face famine in the Horn of Africa – Rawlings

Accra, Feb. 13, GNA – Former President Jerry John Rawlings, African Union High Representative for Somalia, says though the United Nations has downgraded the famine situation in Somalia, the country was still at risk of a renewed crisis if humanitarian aid was cut.

He said an amount of $1.5 billion was required so Somalia did not return into a state of famine.

A statement issued by the Office of Former President in Accra on Monday said he was addressing the Second Annual Conference of the Centre for Technology and Economic Development (CTED) of the New York University in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Sunday.

President Rawlings said a total of 9.5 million people still faced famine in the Horn of Africa with 2.3 million coming from Somalia alone.

Speaking on the topic: “Somalia, the Horn of Africa and Food Security”, the AU High Representative said conflict had impacted negatively on food security in Somalia but expressed the confidence that the recent successes chalked by African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in liberating Mogadishu and other regions of Somalia would help to put in place measures to enhance food security.

Earlier, Professor Yaw Nyarko, a renowned Professor of Economics and Director of the Centre, described President Rawlings as “an emblem of humility and integrity” who had championed the cause of the common man.

He recounted the role President Rawlings had played in the resolution of the conflicts in Liberia and Rwanda.

Professor Nyarko said President Rawlings played a huge role in creating international awareness on the humanitarian situation that engulfed the Horn of Africa in 2011.

President Rawlings and his delegation also held a meeting with the Director General of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi.