Famine in East Africa

I am deeply alarmed by the forecast of famine in East Africa and believe that the United Kingdom must step up its actions to help save lives.

Over 68 million people across the region need humanitarian assistance, with at least 700,000 people facing famine in Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan. Extreme hunger is also driving mass displacement and conflict and is putting hundreds of thousands of lives at risk.

I recognise the important role that UK overseas development assistance plays in tackling global inequalities and fighting global crises. However, in my view, the international community, including the UK Government, has been too slow to help the people of East Africa. In particular, I believe that the Government should be acting faster to deliver on the famine compact agreed at the G7 last year. Ministers should also address the long drivers of conflict and poverty, as well as lead global action and support communities at the sharp edge of the climate crisis.

In addition, I am calling on the Government to urgently reconsider the decision to abandon the 0.7% UK Aid Budget commitment which has seen British support to one of the most vulnerable regions on earth cut back in the past few years. The decision to block all “non-essential” aid payments earlier this summer, provided they are not “critical to life”, is particularly worrying. These short-sighted cuts to aid have left little room to respond to new emergencies. This runs counter both to the generosity of the British people and our national interests. Britain must now step up. It is firmly my view that the UK should not be suspending disbursements but frontloading support and preparing to mobilise further assistance if, as I fear, this crisis gets even worse.

More widely, I am also concerned about the link between the conflict in Ukraine and global food insecurity. I believe that Russia’s attempt to use food as a weapon of war as millions face starvation is despicable and unacceptable.