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UN for First Time Links Conflict to Famine in Four Countries

by Associated Press

   UNITED NATIONS --

   The U.N. Security Council for the first time is linking conflict to the
   threat of famine facing more than 20 million people in Yemen, Somalia,
   South Sudan and northeast Nigeria.

   The council said in a presidential statement Wednesday that it
   "deplores" that some unnamed parties have blocked vital food and
   humanitarian aid getting to people in the four countries.

   Council members stressed that conflicts and violence "have devastating
   humanitarian consequences ... and are therefore a major cause of
   famine" in the four countries.

   The Security Council commended donors for providing humanitarian
   assistance in response to the four crises but said additional resources
   and funding are needed "to pull people back from the brink of famine."

   According to the U.N., only $2.5 billion of the $4.9 billion needed has
   been received.