http://news.yahoo.com/donors-pledge-8-billion-horn-africa-075039932.html
Donors pledge $8 billion for Horn of Africa
International donors pledged $8 billion in development aid
Monday for projects across eight countries in the Horn of Africa, UN
chief Ban Ki-moon, pictured earlier, announced at the start of a visit
to the region (AFP Photo/Jack Guez)
Addis Ababa (AFP) - International donors pledged $8 billion in
development aid Monday for projects across eight countries in the Horn
of Africa, UN chief Ban Ki-moon announced at the start of a visit to
the region.
The aid, from organisations including the World Bank, African
Development Bank (AfDB), European Union and Islamic Development Bank
(IDB), will support efforts to boost economies and stem conflict and
hunger across the volatile region.
Countries targeted are Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia,
South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda.
"The countries of the Horn of Africa are making important yet
unheralded progress in economic growth and political stability," Ban
said in a statement.
"Now is a crucial moment to support those efforts, end the cycles of
conflict and poverty, and move from fragility to sustainability."
Ban, who begins his Horn of Africa trip in Ethiopia Monday, is due to
travel onwards to neighbouring Djibouti and Kenya, leading a
delegation from six other international organisations.
Alongside Ban is World Bank president Jim Yong Kim, and officials from
the African Union, EU, the regional Intergovernmental Authority on
Development (IGAD) bloc of nations, as well as the AfDB and IDB.
Projects include support for oil pipelines and improving transport
links, as well as boosting education and internet access.
Aid will also aim to increase cross-border trade, and boost economic
growth in a region struggling with rampant unemployment as well as
millions of people forced from their homes by war or hunger.
"This new financing represents a major new opportunity for the people
of the Horn of Africa to make sure they get access to clean water,
nutritious food, health care, education, and jobs," World Bank chief
Kim said.
"There is greater opportunity now for the Horn of Africa to break free
from its cycles of drought, food insecurity, water insecurity, and
conflict."
While in Nairobi, Ban will also launch a global campaign to end female
genital mutilation.
This is the third trip that Ban has undertaken with the World Bank and
other organisations, following visits to the Sahel and Great Lakes
regions last year.
The visit comes amid efforts to end fighting in South Sudan that has
sent nearly half a million refugees fleeing into neighbouring
countries.
Received on Mon Oct 27 2014 - 08:24:12 EDT