On December 4, 2024, in Luanda, Angola, US President Joe Biden announced a new humanitarian aid package exceeding $1 billion aimed at assisting Africans displaced by historic droughts and affected by famine.
During his speech at the National Museum of Slavery, Biden stated, "Today I announce over $1 billion in new humanitarian aid for Africans displaced from their homes by the historic droughts." This announcement follows a closed-door meeting with Angolan President João Lourenço.
According to the United Nations, over 30 million people in Southern Africa are currently facing the devastating impacts of a drought exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon, affecting countries such as South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) clarified that this additional aid is intended to address food insecurity and other urgent needs of refugees and displaced persons across 31 countries on the continent.
This funding includes approximately $823 million allocated through USAID and around $186 million managed by the Department of State, as stated in their announcement.
The announcement underscores that Africa has the highest percentage of people suffering from hunger globally, attributed to factors such as armed conflicts, extreme weather events, and natural disasters.
Furthermore, the statement emphasized the commitment to work alongside African partners to tackle the challenge of food insecurity and urged other donors to contribute generously.
In 2024, the United States has already allocated nearly $6.6 billion in humanitarian aid to Sub-Saharan Africa, with USAID highlighting the need for further fundraising to meet the region's critical and growing needs.