The World Bank Group and the Ministry of Finance have signed an agreement for 715 million dollars to go towards fighting food insecurity. Most of the financing (600 million dollars) is earmarked for the implementation of a Food Systems Resilience Programme. A third of the amount is in the form of grants, while the balance is credit. An additional 115 million dollars is pledged for improving access to financial services and bolstering economic activity in pastoralist areas. The areas targeted are mostly in the country's south and east, where a severe drought has put millions of people at risk of starving. Earlier this month, the World Food Programme (WFP) warned the Horn of Africa could face "unprecedented" levels of food insecurity in 2023. The UN agency said armed conflict, climate change, drought, and supply disruptions brought on by Russia's war in Ukraine bode ill for the region. Two months ago, the World Bank provided the federal government a 300 million dollar grant to help people affected by the armed conflict in the country's north.

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