Horn of Africa leader discuss drought crisis

Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki Friday said permanent solutions to Horn of Africa's drought related crisis lay on respective nations’ programmes and action plans with clear timelines of implementation.

Speaking during the International Conference on the Drought Situation in the Horn of Africa at the UN Complex in Gigiri, Nairobi, President Kibaki asserted that only such bold move would ensure sustainable solutions to the continental crisis.

“I therefore call upon each one of you gathered here to devote yourselves to the task of finding long term solutions to the continental crisis,” the President challenged the participants.

Other leaders outlined the measures they had taken in their countries to mitigate the effects of drought.

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete reaffirmed his country’s support to regional efforts towards ensuring food security.

Noting that despite the drought there were areas that still enjoyed good rains, President Kikwete said proper policies should be formulated to increase production in those areas so that the surplus could be transported to deficit areas.

In this regard, the Tanzanian President expressed the need to revamp infrastructure, especially roads and railways, to facilitate smooth transportation of food within the region.Calling for support from the international community, the Kenyan leader observed that previous resource mobilisation efforts to mitigate the effects of drought largely concentrated on short term emergency interventions.

Refugee problem

President Kibaki pointed out that the drought crisis was a matter of grave concern with regard to the reality that over the past decade, the Horn of Africa had experienced severe cycles due to effects of climate change.

He noted that the recurrence of extreme weather and climatic conditions in the region had been increasing in intensity and frequency due to climate change, thus destroying traditional means of livelihood to many communities.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir said all available resources should be mobilised to address the effects of the drought, while Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi underscored the need for restoration of peace and stability in Somalia as a way of alleviating the refugee problem in neighbouring countries.

In a speech read on his behalf by the UN Under-Secretary General Sahle-Work Zewde, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commended Kenya for convening the summit and for hosting a large number of refugees even as it dealt with the challenges resulting from drought.

Other speakers included the President of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Africa Union Commission Vice-Chairman Erastus Mwencha.

Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga also attended the summit.

The United Nations, the World Bank, regional governments and development partners provided the financial support for the hosting of the conference.