US concerns over humanitarian emergency in Sahel

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton affirmed here late Thursday that the US is "deeply concerned" about the humanitarian emergency in the Sahel region of Africa. Clinton said in a statement that "in response to current needs, including protection and assistance for refugees, and to prevent a potentially much more serious situation, I am pleased to announce that the United States is providing an additional USD 120 million in emergency assistance." She added that "with these funds, the US government is providing nearly USD 200 million this fiscal year in humanitarian assistance to the Sahel region." Clinton indicated that about 10 million people "are in need of emergency assistance due to erratic rainfall, failed harvests, high food prices and conflict across the region that includes Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger."