AUC – IGAD Joint Press Conference on Early Action for the Horn of Africa

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, June 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Invitation to Journalists

Journalists are invited to participate in a joint press conference on Friday 13th June 2014 at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in Small Conference Hall 1, at 11:30 am on Early Action for the Horn of Africa. The Press Conference is jointly organized by the Department of Political Affairs of the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

The joint press conference will be addressed by:

1. H.E. Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson, AU Commission

2. H.E. Dr. Aisha L. Abdullahi, Commissioner for Political Affairs, AU Commission

3. H.E. Eng. Mahboub Maalim, Executive Secretary, IGAD

BACKGROUND

A number of credible early warnings have been issued regarding the threat of drought and food crisis across parts of the Horn, as well as famine in Somalia and South Sudan exacerbated by conflict and instability. Early action is critical to ensure that the warnings are not realized, and mitigation actions are identified and resourced in a timely manner so the humanitarian crisis of 2011 in the region is not repeated. In this regard, the Department of Political Affairs, African Union Commission, in conjunction with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), is organizing a meeting on Early Action for the Horn of Africa on June 13th.

This meeting is expected to convene affected Member States, as well as other AU Member States, humanitarian partners, and other relevant stakeholders to review the current situation in the region and deliberate on options and priority areas for early action. Moreover, it is to be recalled that the African Union Commission organized a Pledging Conference for the Horn of Africa in 2011. The meeting will also consider projects funded through this Conference and highlight the impact of these initiatives.

JOURNALISTS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE PRESS CONFERENCE

Did you find this information helpful? If you did, consider donating.