James Sunderland MP attended an East Africa Cannot Wait campaign event in the House of Commons organised jointly by Oxfam, Action Against Hunger and the British Red Cross.

Millions of people across parts of East Africa are being forced into a hunger crisis due to a deadly combination of climate change, conflict, and a global cost-of-living crisis. Whilst the rising costs of food and fuel are driving millions deeper into poverty, both at home and abroad, nowhere is this being felt more acutely than in East Africa. It is now estimated that one person is likely to die every 36 seconds between now and the end of the year because of acute food insecurity, in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya. In South Sudan, 6.6 million people, around half of the population, are facing acute food insecurity. It is feared that famine will be declared across the region in the coming months, unless urgent action is taken.

The East Africa Cannot Wait campaign is calling on the UK Government to commit funding, in line with the UK’s response in 2017, to the UN humanitarian appeals for Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and South Sudan, with a focus on getting funding into the hands of local humanitarian, women’s and children’s rights organisations.

James said:

“Over 21 million people across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia are facing critical levels of hunger. We must do more to stop potential famine in the region.”