Africans Act 4 Africa Initiative Launched

Humanitarian response to the current famine facing the Horn of Africa has been slow and inadequate, says a new report by the Africans Act 4 Africa campaign. 

According to the report, the aid response still faces an overall funding shortfall of US$1.4 billion. At least  12 million people are facing starvation and the situation is bound to get worse in the next few months.

The report calls upon African governments to provide a lasting solution to this uniquely African crisis. It breaks down how much each African state could contribute, in relation to its gross domestic product and contributions made to the African Union. Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa have been asked to give a larger amount than the rest while Gambia is expected to make the least contribution.

 “Based on an already agreed upon formula for contributions to the African Union, Governments in Africa must contribute US$50 million in emergency funds for the worsening drought crisis in the Horn of Africa,” said Houghton Irungu, Pan African Director of Oxfam International, One of the signatories of the report.

The Africans Act 4 Africa campaign brings together the civil society, artists and the general public from across the continent to pressure African governments to find a lasting solution to this crisis. It is based on the realisation that African Countries’ response has been unimpressive hence the need to increase their level of commitment.

Speaking in Nairobi yesterday, during the launch of the campaign, Mr. Irungu asked all Kenyans to use all forms of social media to call for African governments to act end the famine crisis.

“Droughts become famines when good people and good governments do nothing. Drought is inevitable but disasters are preventable” said Mr. Irungu.

The launch of the Africans Act 4 Africa campaign comes a few days ahead of the African Union International Pledging Conference scheduled for 25^th August, 2011. The report prepared by initiative is a policy brief and call to action, endorsed by 12 Pan African Networks and coalitions, Regional NGO councils from West, Southern and East Africa and Non-governmental organisations. It Outlines opportunities and actions needed before the conference.

The pledging conference is organised by the African Union Commission, to raise resources and awareness amongst AU Member States and the wider international community towards alleviating the plight of the affected populations in the Horn of Africa.

For purposes of this conference, the African Union’s focus is bent towards its Member States as well as on the non-traditional sources of aid such as the League of Arab States, Organization of Islamic conference and Regional banks. Contributions from the private sector, especially multi-national corporations will also be expected.

The African union concedes that although affected countries are currently at different level of coping capacities and disaster mitigation, at the extreme is Somalia, where governance has withered and state institutions are non-functional due to the protracted conflict situation. Other factors at the centre of this crisis include poverty and marginalisation.

Meanwhile, leading Kenyan singers have organised a Jam Session on 17^th August at the Michael Joseph Centre, whose proceeds will go towards alleviating the hunger situation in Northern Kenya. Among those expected to perform include Sauti Sol, Nameless, Juliani and Sara Mitaru.

“This is part of a 5-year commitment in which we will rally African artists on a cause where we will play for food, in order to find Sustainable solutions to this crisis,” said musician Sara Mitaru who is also a UN advocate for the Millennium development goals.