WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, Dr. Rajiv Shah, the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, announced an increase in United States humanitarian assistance to East Africa. In total, the United States is now providing more than $600 million in aid that is helping more than 4.6 million people suffering from drought and famine in the Horn of Africa.

"I am happy to announce over $23 million in additional U.S. funding, including nearly $10 million expressly for Somalia," said Dr. Shah at a community forum hosted by Congressman Keith Ellison at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Speaking to forum attendees, Dr. Shah reaffirmed the United States commitment to addressing today's crisis and working toward long-term solutions in the Horn of Africa.

Other forum participants included U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Tim Walz, Daniel Wordsworth of the American Refugee Committee, and Hashi Shafi of the Somali Action Alliance.

The United States is the largest bilateral donor of emergency assistance to the eastern Horn of Africa. To learn more about U.S. assistance and how to help, visit /what-we-do/working-crises-and-conflict/crisis-response/where-we-work/horn-africa.