THE UK Government’s International Development Secretary Priti Patel has called for a new concerted global push to prevent millions of people losing their lives to starvation and disease across East Africa.
During her first visit to Africa since the General Election, Patel said she saw how UK leadership had saved the lives of many facing the risk of extreme hunger but warned that the crisis had reached a critical point. She said a loss of momentum in the international response could rapidly reverse the progress made, cost lives and further destabilise the already fragile region.
She made clear that the UK will continue to set the pace, announcing a £90 million package of urgently needed support which will help over two million people in desperate need of clean water, food, and basic medical supplies in Somalia and Ethiopia, including £60m in new funding for Somalia, and £30m for Ethiopia.
Patel said: “Global Britain is leading the way in providing a lifeline for millions of people in Somalia and Ethiopia who are at risk of starving to death as extreme hunger stalks East Africa.
“I’ve seen UK aid in action saving and changing lives. This is also helping to stabilise the world’s most fragile countries and giving vulnerable people a chance to build lives closer to home and therefore increasing the UK’s security.
“The UK stepped up early with support and lobbied others to do more which has prevented the spread of famine. We are showing our leadership with more food, more water and more medicine for those at imminent risk of dying.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here