The United States on Thursday, December 15, committed another $2.5 billion in food assistance to Africa to cope with rising prices that have increased hunger across the continent.
The White House laid out the new aid commitment before closing remarks to a three-day Africa summit in Washington by President Joe Biden, whose administration has highlighted the role on prices of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine:
“Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine has led to the disruption of food and energy supplies that affect all of our economies,” Vice President Kamala Harris told a luncheon.
She told African leaders that “international rules and norms are under threat – for example, sovereignty and territory integrity, unimpeded commerce and peaceful resolution of disputes.”
The food funding will provide “emergency aid and medium to long-term food security assistance for resilient African food systems and supply markets,” a White House statement said.
President Biden said the United States would also develop a partnership with the African Union to bring together the public and private sectors and international financial institutions to address food needs.
The United States has already provided $11 billion in food assistance for the continent this year, the White House said.
The Horn of Africa has been especially hard hit after successive failed rainy seasons, with the United Nations saying that aid has staved off full-fledged famine in Somalia.
US President Joe Biden threw his support Thursday behind a larger African role in the world as he also vowed to champion democracy in a continent where China and Russia have enjoyed rising clout.
“The United States is all in on Africa and all in with Africa,” Mr. Biden told nearly 50 African leaders who have spent three days in a wintry Washington that featured a gala White House dinner.
“Africa belongs to the table in every room – every room for global challenges that are being discussed,” Mr. Biden said.
