The UK commends the Government of Zimbabwe for identifying the potential impacts of the El Nino induced drought and are working with humanitarian agencies, the UN and donor nations and the Government of Zimbabwe to understand plans and options for international support if needed. Africa Risk Capacity, a UK-supported African Union-led disaster risk insurance mechanism, has confirmed that several pay outs will be triggered in Zimbabwe as a result of the declaration of a state of emergency. Additionally, the UK-funded START Network programme will shortly release funds for anticipatory actions to support the drought response.

During my recent visit to Ethiopia, I saw firsthand the seriousness of the humanitarian situation in Tigray. Across northern Ethiopia, including Tigray, El Nino is causing drought that is affecting 4 million people. According to assessments from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, nearly 1.4 million in Tigray will need immediate emergency food assistance because of drought.

We are working with several international and UN partners to organise a humanitarian pledging conference for the Horn of Africa. The event is scheduled to take place in New York on 24 May. It will help us to mobilise urgent funding for immediate humanitarian needs and to identify long-term solutions to the region's recurrent crises including drought. The UK is a leading humanitarian donor to the region with more than £1 billion provided in relief aid since 2019. UK funded activities are saving lives and making a difference.

We are working with several international and UN partners to organise a humanitarian pledging conference for the Horn of Africa. The event is scheduled to take place in New York on 24 May. It will help us to mobilise urgent funding for immediate humanitarian needs and to identify long-term solutions to the region's recurrent crises including drought.

The UK is a leading humanitarian donor to the region with more than £1 billion provided in relief aid since 2019. UK funded activities are saving lives and making a difference.

The UK is committed to addressing the grave and deteriorating food security situation across East Africa. Due to the combined effects of climate change and conflict almost 72 million people will need life-saving humanitarian aid in the region this year. In financial year 2022/2023 the UK met its £156 million commitment to provide relief aid throughout East Africa. The UK is working to raise the profile of the crisis with our international partners and to ensure an appropriate focus on the need for long-term solutions to the region's recurrent crises including drought.

The UK is committed to supporting communities facing severe impacts of the ongoing drought across East Africa, including the commitment to provide £156 million in humanitarian support this financial year.

On the ground our support is providing millions of people with essential services and supplies including food, clean water, nutritional support and healthcare. Since 2019, the UK has allocated more than £1 billion in East Africa towards humanitarian operations, helping to reach tens of millions of people with life-saving aid. We are working with partners to ensure a robust humanitarian and development response across the region.

The FCDO has considered the impact of reductions to ODA across the whole budget. Impact assessments are ongoing as specific allocation and spending decisions continue to be made.

The UK is committed to supporting communities facing severe impacts of the ongoing drought across East Africa, including the commitment to provide £156 million in humanitarian support this financial year.

On the ground our support is providing millions of people with essential services and supplies including food, clean water, nutritional support and healthcare. Since 2019, the UK has allocated more than £1 billion in East Africa towards humanitarian operations, helping to reach tens of millions of people with life-saving aid. We are working with partners to ensure a robust humanitarian and development response across the region.

The FCDO has considered the impact of reductions to ODA across the whole budget. Impact assessments are ongoing as specific allocation and spending decisions continue to be made.

Local Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) play an important role in delivering UK funded humanitarian support in East Africa. We work and consult closely with local NGOs to aid their planning, delivery and ability to access funding.

In Ethiopia in 2022 the UK provided £7.6 million to the UN's Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund (EHF) which supported a range of international and Ethiopian NGOs. Similarly, the UK-funded 'Building Resilient Communities in Somalia programme has supported a number of Somali NGOs alongside international civil society organisations. More broadly, the FCDO supports a number of Country based Pooled Funds (CBPF) and in 2022, 21.7% of funding allocated by CBPFs went directly to national NGOs.

The UK also uses its voice on multilateral boards to ensure decisions align with the International Development Strategy's commitment to locally-led decision-making.

The UK is committed to supporting communities facing severe impacts of the ongoing drought across East Africa. In November 2022, I [Minister Mitchell] visited Somalia and announced new assistance bringing the UK's total support to over £61 million this financial year across humanitarian, health and nutrition programmes. In January 2023, I also announced a £16 million package of support that will reach more than 600,000 people affected by the drastic impacts of drought and conflict across Ethiopia. In Kenya, in response to the drought, 30,500 children received life-saving nutritional assistance because of the UK's support this financial year. This crisis remains a priority for Ministers and the UK will continue to promote long-term resilience to recurrent shocks such as drought and flooding.

Somalia urgently needs life-saving aid. In late 2022 I visited Somalia and saw how the drought is impacting millions across the country. I met President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, other government figures and humanitarian delivery partners, to discuss preparation for future crises. I also announced further UK aid, bringing the total humanitarian, health and nutrition support in Somalia to over £61 million this financial year.

In Somaliland, as part of a wider package of humanitarian and development support, the UK is working with partners to provide health and nutrition support, including to over 80 health facilities, providing services in the context of drought with the support of our partner UNICEF.

The UK is a sizeable humanitarian donor to East Africa. Since 2019 the UK has allocated more than £1 billion towards humanitarian operations, including across Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and South Sudan, helping to reach tens of millions of people with life-saving aid. Final humanitarian allocations for FY 22/23 are currently being reviewed.

In Ethiopia, the population in need of humanitarian food and nutrition assistance has reached record levels in 2022, driven by ongoing insecurity and climate shocks that are likely to result in continued high needs into 2023. The UN estimates that over 20 million people are food insecure in Ethiopia, of which 13 million people require food assistance as a result of the conflict in the north.

In the last eighteen months the UK has provided almost £90 million of humanitarian support to people affected by crises throughout Ethiopia. Our support has reached civilians in Tigray, Afar, Amhara, Somali and Oromia and also eastern Sudan. This includes critical food aid, safe drinking water, medical care, sanitation and nutritional supplies.