African Union Steps Up to Help Drought Victims

An African donors conference set up by the African Union has pledged $356 million to help alleviate the suffering of the 12 million hit by the drought battering the Horn of Africa. The lion’s share of that sum, $300 million, will come from the African Development Bank, with other African countries and private donors chipping in the rest, Al Jazeera reports.

It’s the first time the AU has held such a conference, and comes during decidedly dire circumstances. The drought is the Horn’s worst in 60 years, and has prompted the UN to declare a state of famine in Somalia. (More Somalia stories.)