ReliefWeb

This report is produced by OCHA in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It is issued by OCHA Eastern Africa. It covers the period from 22 to 26 July 2011. The next report will be issued on or around 29 July.

I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES

· The total number in need of humanitarian assistance in the Horn of Africa now stands at 11.6 million.

· An estimated $2 billion in aid is required for the humanitarian response to the drought emergency, out of which $1 billion has been committed so far.

· The World Bank pledged more than $500 million for long-term projects to aid livestock farmers, while an additional $12 million would be allocated to emergency relief.

· At the request of the presidency of the G20, an Emergency Ministerial Meeting on the Horn of Africa was organized by FAO on 25 July to address the drought crisis in the Horn of Africa and to mobilize international support for affected countries.

· Bakool and Lower Shebelle regions are currently experiencing a famine, which is expected to spread across all regions of southern Somalia in the coming 1-2 months if an immediate and comprehensive humanitarian response is not mobilized, and humanitarian access secured.

· $51.3 million has been allocated from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to provide urgent life-saving assistance in the Horn of Africa drought crisis. This funding, issued over the last two weeks, will enable the delivery of over 40,000 tons of food, among other projects. Humanitarian agencies in Ethiopia received $14.6 million, $20 million went to projects in Somalia, $13.6 million to projects in Kenya and an additional $3.1 million went to support refugees.