The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced that Mozambique is receiving $116 million in assistance from the agency as part of its “Feed the Future” focus countries. This programme was announced by US president Joe Biden as a way to mitigate the impacts of the global food security crisis that has been spurred on by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
“This funding is in addition to the more than $592 million in humanitarian assistance announced last week in Kampala to support refugees and conflict-affected people across the African continent and the nearly $1.2 billion to provide critical aid for millions of people across the Horn of Africa announced on 18 July [2022],” says Ezra Zeya, the under-secretary of state for civilian security, democracy and human rights within USAID.
Living through conflict and a cyclone
“It includes $106 million in humanitarian assistance from USAID to support partners to address humanitarian needs stemming from the devastating effects of the ongoing conflict in northern Mozambique and tropical cyclone Gombe.
The conflict has resulted in the displacement of approximately 800 000 Mozambicans, and tropical cyclone Gombe compounded the hardship people in the north of the country were already facing. USAID’s partners will provide food and nutrition assistance and meet health care, water, sanitation, hygiene, agriculture, and other critical relief needs.”
In 2022, the US will provide $167 million in humanitarian aid to Mozambique for the year. Through direct food assistance and related health, nutrition, and protection services as well as water, sanitation, and hygiene services in countries with high levels of acute food insecurity, reliance on Russian and Ukrainian imports, and susceptibility to price shocks, the agency hopes it will immediately address the most dire effects of the global food security crisis.
Funding to help cover rising costs
“The $116 million in funding also includes $10 million, subject to congressional approval, in development assistance for Mozambique. This funding is part of the $760 million in supplemental funds announced by president Biden to combat the effects of high food, fuel, and fertiliser prices – now being driven by Putin’s war – in those countries that need it most.
“With this additional funding, USAID will help smallholder farmers put climate-smart farming practices into use through better access to improved seeds and by cultivating a wider range of nutrition crops. USAID will also launch a challenge fund to encourage local agribusinesses to test and expand new business models, develop products, and adopt innovative technologies that help them overcome supply chain challenges and reach local consumers efficiently,” Zeya adds.
For the latest updates on USAID’s humanitarian assistance in Mozambique, visit: www.usaid.gov/humanitarian-assistance/mozambique.
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