Written question asked by Jonathan Ashworth (Labour) on Monday, 16 January 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 18 January 2012. It was answered by Andrew Mitchell (Conservative) on Monday, 23 January 2012 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

East Africa: Droughts

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the famine in Somalia; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: There has been a fragile improvement in the situation over the last few months. The number of people affected by the famine and at risk of imminent death has reduced from 750,000 to 250,000—in part thanks to the dramatic scale-up of relief assistance led by the UK and others. However, tens of thousands of people have died, four million people remain in need of emergency assistance, and the current challenges to humanitarian access mean that a further deterioration is possible.The Department for International Development is finalising planned early UK contributions towards the United Nations' led 2012 Somalia humanitarian Consolidated Appeal, to support further assistance efforts where possible.

Secondary information