Event: East Africa food crisis - Breaking the cycle of drought, hunger and famine

The International Rescue Committee EU was excited to partner with EURACTIV for a hybrid conference exploring the current hunger crisis taking place across East Africa.

Watch on YouTube

About the event

The world today faces an unprecedented hunger crisis that requires a bold international response. There are currently six countries at immediate risk of famine - half of which are in East Africa: Somalia, Ethiopia and South Sudan. In Somalia, more than 50% of the population need emergency food aid. These emergencies risk recurring in the future as the region is exposed to further climate and conflict shocks.

The European Union has so far shown global leadership in this crisis. However, it is clear that much greater efforts will be needed to save lives and livelihoods in the region. Many non-governmental organisations claim that if humanitarian assistance is not scaled up significantly and rapidly, the lives of millions of people are at stake - more people will die of hunger, more livelihoods will be at risk, more will become displaced, and more will face protection risks.

The panel discussion explored how the EU can better address the food crisis in Eastern Africa, including:

• What can be done to avert the worst of a deepening food crisis in East Africa?
• Has the EU's response been robust enough so far?
• What lessons must be learned from this crisis to make the humanitarian system fit for the future?

Panellists

• Introduction: Shashwat Saraf, Regional Emergency Director, East Africa, IRC
• Andrea Koulaimah, Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America and Pacific, DG ECHO, European Commission
• Maria Arena MEP, Chair DROI Subcommittee, Member DPAP Committee, European Parliament
• Fouzia Mohamed Ali, Operations Director, GREDO
• Eleanor Hevey, Associate Director, Centre for Disaster Protection
• Harlem Desir, Senior Vice-President, Europe, IRC

Moderator

• Mariam Zaidi, Journalist, EURACTIV