More aid pledged to drought-hit Horn of Africa

Refugees have been making a desperate trek for survival across the arid terrain where the borders of Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia meet. Thousands start the journey, hundreds have already perished in the worst drought for 60 years.

Now aid agencies who run camps across the border from Somalia have received a boost with the commitment of 60 million euros in emergency drought aid pledged by the UK. Germany has announced 5 million euros worth of assistance.

“We don’t have the financial resources to increase the programme as we need to at the moment. And our priority will be to get food into the area and to get more assistance in terms of supplementary feeding for the children that are malnourished and to ensure that water and health are also available for them,” said Mark Bowden, United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia.

In another sign of hope, the United Nations has made its first aid delivery to drought victims in areas of Somalia controlled by al-Qaeda-linked militants.

The group, al-Shabab, had imposed ban on aid into Somalia but that has now been lifted, reportedly giving UN workers unhindered access.

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