September 24, 2011

www.interaction.org

Contacts: Sue Pleming: 202.552.6561 or 202.341.3814 (Cell) or spleming@interaction.org Tawana Jacobs: 202.552.6534 or 202.297.1696 (Cell) or tjacobs@interaction.org

Statement of Samuel A. Worthington, President & CEO, InterAction

Mini-Summit on the Humanitarian Response to the Horn of Africa September 24, 2011
Thank you, Mr. Secretary-General, President Al-Nasser, your Excellencies. InterAction is an alliance of international NGOs and more than 50 of our members are responding to the crisis in the Horn of Africa, including groups such as Save the Children, World Vision and Catholic Relief Services. We are acutely aware of our responsibilities as international NGOs and the tragic fact that we are not reaching many of those most in need. The extreme scale of this crisis makes it critical that we provide a comprehensive and carefully thought-out response. We all must keep in mind two priorities: addressing the immediate human suffering and investing in long term food security and disaster resiliency. Governments and NGOs must work together if we are to respond effectively. We must coordinate our efforts and support each other in order to save the maximum number of lives. Our member organizations have been coordinating with the United Nations and the affected states in the Horn. We applaud these collaborative partnerships. Only by working together can we begin to address a crisis of this magnitude. We also welcome the opportunity to work with new donors and partners from the region. Humanitarian NGOs are critical to a large-scale response that reaches those most in need. Our member organizations have increased awareness of the crisis in the United States, and have raised over $60 million dollars in private donations. We need to raise more funds. In areas of instability, such as southern Somalia, NGOs are particularly important in reaching the most vulnerable populations. We call on all parties to ensure full, unfettered access to those in need. All legal impediments interfering with humanitarian responses should be removed immediately. Furthermore, the use of any military assets to deliver humanitarian assistance would be counterproductive and hinder rather than help humanitarian efforts. Unfortunately, this emergency has not yet peaked. The coming rains will result in additional deaths from disease. The crisis will last through next year and its human toll will be felt long after that. NGOs and governments must continue our humanitarian efforts beyond the short termwe cannot turn our backs on these people once the famine is out of the news. Additionally, we have to consider more than the immediate issue of hunger. Victims of the famine are exposed to horrific violence and exploitation when they seek help. We all must take urgent steps to provide protection, particularly for women. Funds must also be made available to assist the hundreds of thousands of refugees displaced by the crisis, especially in Ethiopia and Kenya.

Finally, we must remember that prevention is always cheaper than the cure. Funding of long term resiliency and food security are absolutely essential to ensure that tragedies like this do not occur again, or are at least minimized. What are needed are long term programs that reduce the risk of future disasters, adapt to climate change, and ensure access to markets. Funding of education and protection programs will also increase resiliency. Any investments in these areas nowwith commitments to continue investing beyond the shorttermwill save lives and dollars in years to come. Governments and NGOs must work together to provide the most comprehensive response possible. International humanitarian NGOs will do our part. We look forward to working with you.

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InterAction is the largest alliance of U.S.-based nongovernmental international organizations with more than 190 members. Our members operate in every developing country, working with local communities to overcome poverty and suffering by helping to improve their quality of life. Visit www.interaction.org
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