WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) issued the following statement on the United Nations declaration that the decades-long drought in East Africa has resulted in famine in two regions of Somalia:
“The tragedy unfolding in the horn of Africa merits a coordinated response by the international community. While we must ensure that our assistance does not benefit terrorist groups active in Somalia like Al Shabab, we have a moral obligation to ensure that millions do not starve. I support the efforts of international aid agencies and the administration to ensure that immediate assistance is provided to address this dire humanitarian crisis. The scale of this tragedy is vast and will not be fully alleviated over night. I look forward to working with my colleagues to identify an appropriate response from the U.S., in line with our moral obligations and national security concerns. ”
In 2009, Senator Casey introduced the Global Food Security Act which seeks to mitigate the effects of drought conditions by improving the agricultural practices of farmers in developing countries around the world.
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