William Hague defends famine effort

Published on 19/07/2011 14:02

FOREIGN Secretary William Hague said the UK government was working to "prevent a crisis becoming a catastrophe" in the drought-stricken Horn of Africa.

Mr Hague told MPs yesterday that 1.3 million people faced starvation in Ethiopia but the UK had committed a further 52 million in aid to the region.

He defended the coalition's controversial commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of the UK's income on aid and said he hoped the stance would "shame" other nations into action.

He said: "We are working to prevent a crisis becoming a catastrophe, including helping to feed 1.3 million people facing starvation in Ethiopia."