Ottawa (ANTARA/AFP) - Canada "is committed to making a difference" in the lives of the nearly 12 million Horn of Africa residents facing severe drought and battling hunger, Minister of International Cooperation, Beverley Oda, said en route to Kenya Wednesday.

The United Nations on Wednesday requested an additional $500 million in humanitarian aid in 2011 in order to address what it is calling the worst food crisis in Africa in 20 years.

"The situation facing people in the region, especially the women and children, is dire. Canada is committed to making a real difference in their lives," said Oda.

In Kenya, the minister will visit refugee camps in Dadaab, Kenya, where thousands of Somalis are arriving every day. The camps, originally intended for 90,000 refugees, currently hold almost 400,000 people.
(Uu.H-AK)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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