The East African famine, a result of recent disasters both natural and man-made, has wreaked havoc across the region.  Government mismanagement and conflicts in the region have only made the problem worse.  To investigate the situation, Chairman Chris Smith (NJ-04) will convene a hearing entitled “East Africa’s Quiet Famine” on March 28, 2017, helping to establish what options may be available for the U.S. government to effectively address the growing hunger crisis. Testifying at the hearing will be a government official managing USAID’s response, as well as several civil society leaders from organizations operating humanitarian programs in the region.

     “The East Africa famine of 2011 gained significant news coverage and a very active international response,” said Smith. “In contrast, the current East Africa famine has gotten much less obvious news attention despite the fact that at least 16 million people in the region face hunger or even starvation.  This hearing is intended to examine the dimensions of the current famine, the reasons why it has become so acute and existing government and civil society efforts to meet the desperate needs.”

Who:               Chairman Smith (NJ-04), Senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations; other members of the committee

Witness:         
Panel I

Mr. Matthew Nims
Acting Director
Office of Food for Peace

Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance
U.S. Agency for International Development

Panel II
Mr. Ken Isaacs
Vice President
Programs and Government Relations
Samaritan's Purse

Mr. Michael Bowers
Vice President
Humanitarian Leadership and Response
Mercy Corps

Mr. Thabani Maphosa
Vice-President for Food Assistance
World Vision International

Ms. Faustine Wabwire
Senior Foreign Assistance Policy Advisor
Bread for the World Institute

What:              House hearing on the famine in East Africa

When:             Tuesday, March 28, 2017 2:30 PM

Where:            Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2200 (second floor)

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