Accra, Aug. 10, GNA - Former President John Rawlings has tasked Africa to rise up to the challenge at the August 25 Pledging Conference to raise emergency funds for relief in Somalia and other Horn of Africa countries severely affected by drought and famine.

He said in a bid to raise international awareness on the status of the crises in Somalia in particular, August 15 had been declared Somalia Day to be celebrated across the continent.

The pledging conference, he said, and the Somalia Day event had been decided following consultations with the Chairman of the African Union, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr Jean Ping.

Speaking at a courtesy call on him by the new British High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Peter Jones, former President Rawlings, who is the African Union High Representative for Somalia and the Humanitarian Face for the Horn of Africa crises, said governments, private individuals, corporate institutions and the International Community would all be at the pledging conference, which was aimed at raising 500 million dollars towards the relief effort.

Over 12 million people within the region have been affected by the famine.

Former President Rawlings thanked the government and people of Britain for the immense contributions they had made to relieve the plight of the people of Somalia and said the people of Somalia were very grateful for the support.

The UK Government has pledged an additional £90 million aid to the affected region and prior to that had committed £80 million annually for the next three years, towards seeking peace in Somalia. Individuals in the United Kingdom had also contributed £24 million by July 21.

The AU High Representative said he was hopeful that the other members of the International Community, particularly members of the Arab League, would rise up to the call to support the Horn of Africa Region.

Former First Lady and President of the 31st December Women’s Movement, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, expressed regret about the plight of women and children in the affected regions and said aside the food and health needs of such people efforts should be made to create educational opportunities for the children.

“We have to break the cycle of uneducated Somalis,” she said.

Mr Jones thanked President Rawlings for the role he was playing in Somalia and said the situation in the Horn of Africa needed international leadership and it was gratifying to see the Former President take up the role of creating awareness on the dire situation in the East Africa Region.

President Rawlings is on an African sensitisation tour to brief leaders of regional economic communities on the need to raise urgent African support for the Horn of Africa Region.

He will be travelling to Nigeria, Ethiopia, South Africa, Angola, Namibia and Congo Republic.

Among those present at the meeting were Mr Kofi Adams, Deputy General Secretary of the NDC and spokesman for the former President.