RNS: In a move to tackle growing food insecurity across Africa, U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday that the United States will provide over $1 billion in additional humanitarian assistance to help refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and vulnerable communities in 31 African countries.
During his visit to Angola, President Biden revealed that nearly $823 million of the funding would be allocated through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), including more than $202 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation. Another $186 million will be channeled through the U.S. Department of State, according to a statement from USAID.
This funding is part of the U.S. commitment to address Africa’s pressing food insecurity, which was reaffirmed at the 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit. The initiative aims to provide immediate assistance to millions facing hunger, malnutrition, and other critical needs.
Africa has the highest proportion of people suffering from hunger, with nearly 300 million individuals—one in five Africans—facing food insecurity in 2023, according to the United Nations. The number of people experiencing acute food insecurity and malnutrition continues to climb, driven by factors such as armed conflict, extreme weather, and natural disasters.
The U.S. government’s support will focus on life-saving assistance, including emergency health care, water, sanitation, and hygiene services, all vital to preventing the spread of infectious diseases. In addition, the funding will address protection, mental health, education, and shelter needs for the most vulnerable.
With the Commodity Credit Corporation’s funding, USAID will also be purchasing and distributing U.S. agricultural products to provide essential food assistance to food-insecure populations in East and Central Africa. This new aid reinforces the United States’ commitment to supporting its African partners in addressing the continent’s growing humanitarian crisis.
