Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment he has made of the potential level of deterioration in food security throughout the greater Horn of Africa during September 2019; and what steps he is taking to ensure the urgent increase in activity to tackle the predicted large-scale emergency assistance needs.

DFID is concerned by deteriorating levels of food security in the Horn of Africa. This is a result of poor rainfall across much of the region and political instability and insecurity, including in Sudan and South Sudan.

The UK is a world leader in supporting those at risk of food insecurity, and has taken early action across the region to save lives. This includes £8 million of additional support in Somalia to support emergency interventions and resilience. In Ethiopia, DFID supports the Government of Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) that reaches 8 million chronically food insecure people in drought affected regions with conditional cash transfers. DFID plans to contribute £16.7 million to the PSNP this year. In Sudan, the UK has already contributed £30 million this fiscal year to humanitarian interventions. DFID will continue to monitor the situation closely and press the international community to commit further support where it is needed.

DFID will continue to support communities and states in the Horn to build resilience to crises and shocks. Our work on humanitarian early warning systems raises awareness of crises where food security is deteriorating, and we prioritise longer-term responses to support food security, including through agricultural programmes.