Meeting with President of Kenya, tour of Somali refugee camp & visit to agricultural research institute...
Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, has arrived in Kenya with a US delegation sent by President Obama to pledge US aid for the growing famine in Somalia and the Horn of Africa region, the White House announced by e-mail shortly after midnight today. Dr. Biden will meet with President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, as well as visit the Dadaab Refugee Complex, which is receiving thousands of Somali refugees, "to draw the world’s attention to the crisis and pledge U.S. support for relief operations." She will also visit the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute in Nairobi, to discuss the US Feed the Future initiative. Dr. Biden is accompanied by USAID Administrator Raj Shah, Assistant Secretary of State Eric Schwartz, Special Assistant to the President Gayle Smith, and former Senator Bill Frist.
The visit "will underscore the United States’ commitment to working with the governments and people of the region, and the international community, to assist the people of the Horn of Africa during this urgent time of need, and to investing in long-term solutions to hunger and food insecurity in the region," the White House said.
"Now is the time for nations and peoples to come together to avert an even worse catastrophe by offering support and assistance to on-going relief efforts," President Obama said as he called for global aid to the region last week, during his Ramadan message.
The full statement on Dr. Biden's visit, from the White House:
Dr. Jill Biden has arrived in Kenya with Senator Bill Frist, USAID Administrator Raj Shah, Assistant Secretary of State Eric Schwartz, and Special Assistant to the President Gayle Smith. Dr. Biden’s trip will underscore the United States’ commitment to working with the governments and people of the region, and the international community, to assist the people of the Horn of Africa during this urgent time of need, and to investing in long-term solutions to hunger and food insecurity in the region.
Amid the worst drought in East Africa in 60 years, the United Nations has declared that famine now affects five regions in Somalia and predicts that famine could soon expand throughout southern Somalia. Thousands of Somalis are fleeing the famine and seeking refuge in Kenya and Ethiopia, which are also affected by the drought. According to the United Nations, more than 12.4 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Dr. Biden will visit the Dadaab Refugee Complex, which is receiving thousands of Somali refugees, to draw the world’s attention to the crisis and pledge U.S. support for relief operations.
Dr. Biden will also highlight the support of the United States for development efforts across the region, and will visit the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) in Nairobi. During this visit, Dr. Biden will meet with government of Kenya officials, including Minister of Agriculture Hon. Dr. Sally J. Kosgei, and highlight the Obama-Biden Administration’s Feed the Future program, which is investing in country-led strategies designed to address the root causes of hunger and food insecurity around the world. Because emergency assistance alone cannot solve the underlying food insecurity in the region, institutions like KARI and Feed the Future are also critical at this time.
Dr. Biden will meet with President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to highlight the ongoing partnership between our countries and to discuss how the United States can work with international partners on the best response to this crisis.
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