Thank you for focusing attention on the unfolding tragedy in the Horn of Africa, and for providing UNICEF with this opportunity to share our perspective on this devastating situation.

Thank you. I have further questions, but I will yield to Senator Isakson.

I would be interested in your input, if I could--it is for my three questions here--first, about future planning, about how the United States can better assist the countries in the region, particularly here in the Horn of Africa, where the…

One other country in the region we have not referenced at all today is Eritrea, one of the most totalitarian regimes in the world.

The U.S. contribution, while extremely generous and we recognize it as such, remains under half of what the Bush administration contributed in 2008.

I would like to call to order today's hearing focusing on one of the most critical issues in the world today, responding to the drought and famine in the Horn of Africa.

Much of Kenya's power is delivered by hydroelectric power, which, due to the record drought, has dropped by more than half.

Particularly Food for Peace should be highlighted here because that is our food aid account, and that has been--there is a proposed cut of 30 percent of that budget.

As you noted, Senator Coons, the FEWS NET famine early warning system alerted us in August that a drought was on the horizon.

What are we doing to avoid the significant security challenges facing Somalia spilling over into Kenya and Ethiopia?

Would further bureaucratic delay in resolving these issues strike you as cruel and inappropriate?