Are the BRICs doing enough for east Africa?

Over at UN Dispatch, Alanna Shaikh looks at who’s giving to the East Africa relief effort–and offers some new fodder to those who argue that the BRICS aren’t ready for global leadership: The United States is giving about half a billion dollars, more than any other country. $534,821,220, to be precise. It’s a respectable amount ...

By , a professor at Indiana University’s Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies.

Over at UN Dispatch, Alanna Shaikh looks at who's giving to the East Africa relief effort--and offers some new fodder to those who argue that the BRICS aren't ready for global leadership:

Over at UN Dispatch, Alanna Shaikh looks at who’s giving to the East Africa relief effort–and offers some new fodder to those who argue that the BRICS aren’t ready for global leadership:

The United States is giving about half a billion dollars, more than any other country. $534,821,220, to be precise. It’s a respectable amount in the light of everything going on in the US economy. Most of that money is going to Ethiopia and Kenya. Kenya, I assume, for famine refugees, and Ethiopia for its own food crisis. Only $77 million is going to the Somalia combined appeal. Saudi Arabia has different priorities – almost opposite. It has pledged $50 million to Somalia, and $744,137 to Kenya.

The Russian Federation has promised a paltry $1 million, all to Kenya. It’s hard to see such a small amount as anything beyond a gesture to show they’re still a donor country and not just a recipient. Interestingly, Russia has been out-donored by Sudan, which has pledged $2.5 million to Ethiopian famine response.

In terms of nontraditional donors – Brazil has pledged $27,477,513. China so far has offered nothing. It’s possible – and we can hope – that China is providing aid that’s not being tracked by the OCHA data that The Guardian is using.

Update: China has made  a significant pledge:

The Chinese government has pledged $55 million in food aid for Horn of Africa nations dealing with severe drought and famine.

The official Xinhua news agency said Monday that Premier Wen Jiabao made the offer during talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in Beijing.

The pledge is in addition to nearly $8 million in emergency aid that China promised Ethiopia earlier.  Last month, the Asian giant also pledged $14 million in urgent aid to East African countries including Kenya and Djibouti.

David Bosco is a professor at Indiana University’s Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies. He is the author of The Poseidon Project: The Struggle to Govern the World’s Oceans. Twitter: @multilateralist

Tag: Africa

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