UN ENVOY BONDEVIK URGES DONOR COUNTRIES TO FUND APPEALS FOR HORN OF AFRICA

UN ENVOY BONDEVIK URGES DONOR COUNTRIES TO FUND APPEALS FOR HORN OF AFRICA

NEW YORK/OSLO, 16 March (OCHA) -- “The drought crisis in the Horn of Africa is very serious and we must address immediate needs,” said Kjell Magne Bondevik, United Nations Special Humanitarian Envoy for the Horn of Africa, speaking at a press conference in Oslo today.  In the five countries of Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti, more than 7.5 million people are affected by the current drought, the worst in decades, which is also decimating herds belonging to pastoralists.  Overall, close to 18 million people are food-insecure in the five affected countries.

“The people of the region and those who seek to help them need much more support.  I will begin corresponding with ministries of foreign affairs in major donor countries, in order to galvanize the funding needed for humanitarian relief.  I urge the international community to turn their attention to the crisis.  I especially urge donor countries to fund and support the UN Appeals and the efforts of the entire humanitarian community,” Mr. Bondevik said.

“On my visit to a drought-stricken district in Kenya, I saw with my own eyes the terrible effect this drought is having on pastoralists, farmers and their families.  Children are often the most vulnerable,” he added.  “A great number of animals have already lost their lives due to the drought.  Now, all efforts must be made to avoid a similar destiny for children and their families,” said the Special Humanitarian Envoy.

The Horn of Africa is one of the most food-insecure regions in the world, where more than 40 per cent of the people are undernourished.  The recent severe drought compounds what is already a dire humanitarian situation in countries beset by years of high rates of malnutrition and morbidity, chronic food insecurity and the effects of conflict.

While the Governments of the affected countries and the international community are working to bring life-saving assistance to people in need, much more must be done and more money is urgently required, emphasized Mr. Bondevik.

He also stressed that more attention is needed for the root causes of food insecurity, as well as support for longer-term programmes.  There is also a need to enhance coordination among national Governments, local authorities, the United Nations, non-governmental organizations and the donor community, as well as a regional approach to tackle this regional issue.

The Special Humanitarian Envoy’s term is for an initial period of one year, beginning in February 2006.  He is supported by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) during this period, and reports to the Secretary-General and the Emergency Relief Coordinator.  Mr. Bondevik also affirmed his plans to visit other countries in the region, in April, as well as donor capitals, in order to mobilize resources for the drought crisis.

Also today, the Government of Norway announced its decision to allocate more than $45 million (300 million Norwegian kroner) to the drought-stricken countries.  Of the sum, some $10.6 million (70 million Norwegian kroner) has been earmarked for emergency efforts; the rest will be used for longer-term measures.  The present allocations come in addition to Norway’s earlier allocation of more than $30 million (200 million Norwegian kroner) to the United Nation’s new global disaster relief fund, monies from which will also be used in the Horn of Africa.

For further information, please call:  Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 917 892 1679; Kristen Knutson, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 9262; Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570.

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