Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) – Nearly US$ 50 million was raised by the African Union (AU) to assist the countries in the Horn of Africa, threatened by famine, the AU Commissioner for the rural economy and agriculture, Mrs. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, announced Thursday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
"This is from voluntary contributions by member countries. This should be added to the financial aids granted by several countries and which have already been disbursed to needy populations," she declared at a news conference ahead of the AU summit, scheduled for the Ethiopian capital this weekend.
The AU Commissioner pleaded for the search for a definitive solution to food problems through the establishment of policies which would guarantee further financial resources to the agricultural sector.
"Nearly 30 countries have already put in place agriculture development programmes decided by the African Union in Maputo. This effort must be kept up as there are no other means of attaining food security goals on the continent," Mrs. Tumusiime said.
Several million people are threatened by famine in the Horn of Africa, mainly in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya where huge refugee camps have been opened.
-0- PANA SEI/AAS/IBA/PAP/VAO 26Jan2012
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