USAID official Samantha Power is set to East Africa, a region where an unprecedented drought is pushing millions to the brink of starvation and where food insecurity is being further exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
According to the USAID in a statement Power’s tour will last from July 22 to July 24, coming on the heels of a $1.3 billion surge in humanitarian and development assistance for the Horn of Africa to provide life-saving aid for the region where more than 18 million people are in need.
During her trip Power will be urging the international community to rally resources to stave off mass starvation and deaths, particularly in the most-affected countries, which have an extreme risk of famine.
Ethiopia and Somalia are two of the most serious drought-stricken countries in the region.
Administrator Power will meet with humanitarian partners, civil society and senior government officials to discuss U.S. support for drought response and the impacts of Russia’s war against Ukraine on food security.
She will visit drought-stricken communities grappling with the loss of crops and livestock and learn more about the impacts the drought has on water supply, health, and livelihoods.
An estimated seven million children are suffering from severe malnutrition in the Horn of Africa.
Power will also visit a health facility providing integrated medical care and nutritional support and travel to a USAID supported emergency food distribution site.
WN/as/APA