Please see below the statement from Refugees International Senior Advocate for East and Southern Africa, Abdullahi Halakhe:

“The U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit comes at a time of unprecedented food insecurity in Africa. This is especially the case in the Horn of Africa, where successive failed rain seasons have caused massive drought leaving almost 40 million people food insecure.

The food crisis in the Horn of Africa is multidimensional but not unmanageable. Climate change and conflict are exacerbating the challenge, but it is unlearned lessons from the past that are holding back region-global responses. Early warning and action through flexible funding, support for social safety programs, and humanitarian carve-outs in areas affected by sanctions will save lives and livelihoods.

Promoting food security is one of the identified priorities for the summit. President Biden must ensure that his gathering with African leaders stimulates further concrete action, perhaps starting with a regional summit dedicated to addressing the food crisis in the Horn of Africa.”

Source: Refugees International