[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 115 (Thursday, July 28, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1433-E1434]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     DROUGHT IN THE HORN OF AFRICA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MAXINE WATERS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 28, 2011

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, the people of the Horn of Africa are facing 
a devastating crisis. A severe drought has left millions of children, 
women, and men in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti malnourished. 
Many are on the verge of starvation. According to the World Food 
Program, more than 11 million people in the Horn of Africa require food 
assistance due to the drought.
  The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) 
reports that below-normal spring rains in the eastern Horn of Africa 
led to below-normal harvests and shortages of water and grazing 
resources for livestock. Livestock health has deteriorated markedly, 
and milk production has declined significantly. Food prices throughout 
the eastern Horn of Africa continued to rise during the month of June, 
contributing to food insecurity for the population.
  The conditions in Somalia are especially severe. According to the 
Famine Early Warning

[[Page E1434]]

Systems Network (FEWS NET), which is supported by USAID, two areas of 
southern Somalia are already experiencing famine. Famine exists when at 
least 20 percent of the population has extremely limited access to 
basic food requirements, acute malnutrition exceeds 30 percent, and the 
death rate exceeds 2 out of every 10,000 people per day for the entire 
population. Death rates are above the famine threshold in two areas and 
are elevated across the south. Tens of thousands of people have already 
died in the past three months.
  FEWS NET projects that famine will spread across all regions of 
southern Somalia within one to two months. The network estimates that 
3.7 million people are in crisis nationwide, and 3.2 million of them 
require immediate, lifesaving assistance. These severe conditions are 
expected to remain at least through December of this year. FEWS NET has 
declared this Africa's worst food security crisis since Somalia's 1991-
1992 famine.
  The effects of the drought in Somalia have been exacerbated by the 
lack of an effective central government and continuing conflict with 
al-Shabaab terrorists.
  Drought has also affected Kenya and Ethiopia, where the situation is 
complicated by the arrival of large numbers of refugees from Somalia, 
many of them suffering from acute malnutrition.
  The U.S. Government has already spent a total of approximately $458.7 
million on humanitarian assistance in the Horn of Africa during fiscal 
year 2011. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a statement on 
July 20th expressing concern on behalf of the U.S. Government. She 
noted that additional international assistance for the region is needed 
and announced an additional $28 million in U.S. assistance to Somalia 
and Somali refugees in Kenya. However, more needs to be done. FEWS NET 
has called for an immediate, large-scale, and comprehensive response to 
save tens of thousands of lives.
  I am deeply concerned that the State and Foreign Operations 
appropriations bill for fiscal year 2012, which was marked up 
yesterday, will not provide sufficient funds for critical priorities 
like these. The bill includes an 18 percent cut in development 
assistance, which funds projects such as food security and basic 
education. The bill also cuts international disaster assistance by 12 
percent compared to the fiscal year 2011 level and a shocking 42 
percent compared to the fiscal year 2010 level. Such drastically 
reduced funding levels will not allow the United States to help 
millions of people in need or respond to emergencies, such as famines, 
hurricanes and earthquakes.
  I have seen children who were starving. It is a terrible sight to 
see. We cannot sit by idly and allow thousands of children to die and 
not take any action to help them. To do so would be contrary to our 
national interests and contrary to our values.
  I call upon my colleagues and indeed all Americans to show compassion 
to our brothers and sisters in Africa. And I call upon the U.S. 
Government to organize a comprehensive effort to save the lives of 
millions of hungry people throughout the Horn of Africa.

                          ____________________