U.S. announces over $1b humanitarian assistance to Africa — World — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

President Joe Biden has announced that the United States is providing more than $1 billion in additional humanitarian assistance to address food insecurity and other urgent needs of refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and affected communities in 31 African countries.

The funding, announced during President Biden’s visit to Angola, includes nearly $823 million through USAI, of which more than $202 million is from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation and nearly $186 million through the United States Department of State.

At the United States-Africa Leaders’ Summit in 2022, President Biden reaffirmed America’s commitment to its African partners to accelerate progress toward achieving food security, including addressing the immediate and acute food insecurity crisis through humanitarian assistance. Africa is the region with the largest percentage of the population facing hunger.

According to the UN, one in five Africans, almost 300 million people, faced hunger in 2023, and the number of people facing acute food insecurity and malnutrition continues to rise. Armed conflict, extreme weather events, natural disasters, and other emergencies are driving humanitarian needs across the continent and requiring humanitarian assistance to save lives and alleviate suffering among the most vulnerable.

With this additional assistance, including funding from the bipartisan National Security Supplemental, America humanitarian partners are providing life-saving assistance and vital programs for people at risk of exploitation and abuse, including refugees, IDPs, and affected communities. Additionally, implementing partners are providing emergency health care and water, sanitation, and hygiene services to help prevent the transmission of infectious diseases among the most vulnerable people affected by acute food insecurity and malnutrition. This funding will also assist affected populations to meet other essential needs, such as protection, mental health, education, and shelter.

With the Commodity Credit Corporation funding, USAID is purchasing, shipping, and distributing United States agricultural commodities from American farmers to provide life-saving food assistance for food-insecure populations in East and Central Africa.

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