AU pledges $380m for famine aid
2011-08-25 21:29
Addis Ababa - African leaders have pledged nearly $380m to help famine-hit families in the Horn of Africa.
During a donor conference held on Thursday at the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia's capital, the African Development Bank in a statement announced a donation of $300m for long-term development in the Horn of Africa, to be spent by 2013. Nations also pledged $28.8m in food donations.
African leaders promised to donate $51m, the most generous donors being Algeria with $10m, Egypt with $6m, and Angola with $5m.
African leaders had been criticised for not doing enough to help those affected by the famine. The UN says 12.4 million people need food aid and tens of thousands have died. Aid groups had said they wanted at least $50m from Thursday's conference.
- AP
