Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


US Special Envoy: Millions in Aid Aim to Help Fragile Sahel Region

Salem Solomon

   WASHINGTON - The U.S. has announced $152 million in new aid to the
   Sahel region of Africa to support one of the most fragile and troubled
   regions in the world.

   U.S. Special Envoy to the Sahel Peter Pham announced the aid on
   Thursday following a trip to West Africa, where he visited Mauritania
   and Niger. The Sahel is plagued by extremist violence, a harsh and
   changing climate, and political instability.

   "More than $2.5 million people in the Sahel region are displaced, $3.3
   [million] are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection
   services, and the United States is proud to be the largest donor of
   humanitarian assistance to the region," Pham said during a conference
   call announcing the aid, [1]hosted by the Wilson Center Africa Program.

   The funding comes from the State Department's Bureau of Population,
   Refugees, and Migration and U.S. Agency for International Development's
   Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance. It will assist some of the most
   vulnerable populations in Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania and Niger.

References

   1. https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/ground-truth-briefing-us-interests-and-engagement-sahel-current-state-key-issues-and-way

.