Special Humanitarian Envoy visits European capitals

(Geneva: 23 May 2006): The United Nations Special Humanitarian Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Kjell Magne Bondevik, has started a visit to European donor capitals including Brussels, London and Berlin, with the aim of encouraging them to contribute more funds, especially for the long-term, to meet critical needs in the Horn of Africa.
Mr. Bondevik met yesterday in Brussels with the Director General of the Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) of the European Commission, Antonio Cavaco, together with the Director of the Development Department of the European Commission. Mr. Bondevik requested the European Commission to do more to fight the consequences of the drought in the Horn of Africa and stressed the need for a regional approach.

Today, Mr. Bondevik will meet with Hilary Benn, the United Kingdom Development Cooperation Minister, in London, as well as with representatives of the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) OXFAM and Save the Children Fund (SCF). On Friday, Mr. Bondevik will have a series of meetings with German Government authorities in Berlin.

On 7 April, the United Nations launched a regional appeal for the Horn of Africa requesting $443 million to support the urgent needs of more than eight million people. To date, only $139 million has been committed to the Appeal. In the absence of meaningful international funding to support much-needed relief assistance, resources are being redirected from long-term recovery projects to finance short-term relief - thus preventing any chances of progress.

The impact of recurrent drought and livelihood insecurity that has directly threatened the lives of more than eight million people, and placed more than 15 million at risk, especially pastoralists.

"Given the magnitude of livestock losses sustained during this crisis, full recovery will be a long process that will take years or even decades," noted Mr. Bondevik.

Although the Horn of Africa has received some rainfall in the past few weeks, which has improved water sources and pasture, it is too early to determine the overall impact of the rains on food security. In some areas, the rains have deepened the humanitarian crisis as floods have further displaced populations, destroyed crops, homes and infrastructure, increased the threat of water-borne diseases and impeded access to affected populations.

In early May, Mr. Bondevik undertook a five-nation mission to Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. He has said that he plans to return to the region later this year to assess the progress made in relation to the humanitarian response and long-term development.

For further information, please call: Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 917 892 1679; Kristen Knutson, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 9262; Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570. OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int.