Another donor has responded to the worsening food situation in the Sahel.
On Thursday (March 29), U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced $120 million in emergency humanitarian assistance for the Sahel. Clinton said this is part of the $200 million the United States is providing the region this 2012.
The money will be used to address acute malnutrition and hunger, and will help build long-term approaches to lasting food security. It will also provide protection and assistance to refugees displaced by conflict in the region.
Several donors have stepped up their assistance to the Sahel, including Canada ($41.1 million), Ireland ($6.6 million) and the European Union (more than $200 million). Football matches are being held throughout Europe to raise awareness on the crisis in the region as well. The United Kingdom, meanwhile, announced $7.8 million for Mali and Niger in early March.
The food crisis in the Sahel is driven by drought, crop failure, high food prices and conflict. Aid agencies fear the military coup in Mali would exacerbate the food situation in the country.
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