US President Donald Trump told Pope Francis on Wednesday he was committing more than $ 300 m (270 million euros ) to help prevent or tackle famine in Yemen and several countries in Africa .
Trump , meeting the pontiff for the first time , said he had “ renewed” the US “ commitment to fighting global famine ” , with the United Nations warning that about 20 million people across Nigeria , Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen are at risk.
The UN has described the situation as the biggest humanitarian crisis in its history, but donor funding is falling far short .
It appealed earlier this month for $ 4 . 4 bn , but said less than a third had been raised.
“ As he ( Trump) relayed at the Vatican, the United States is proud to announce more than $ 300 million in anti - famine spending” for the area , a White House statement said .
His announcement came just a day after the US State Department laid out plans to put “ America first ” and slash Washington ’ s budget for diplomacy and foreign aid by more than 30 percent.
The deepest cuts will hit foreign assistance programmes and contributions by the world ’ s largest economy to international organisations like the United Nations and its global peacekeeping budget .
Trump , meeting the pontiff for the first time , said he had “ renewed” the US “ commitment to fighting global famine ” , with the United Nations warning that about 20 million people across Nigeria , Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen are at risk.
The UN has described the situation as the biggest humanitarian crisis in its history, but donor funding is falling far short .
It appealed earlier this month for $ 4 . 4 bn , but said less than a third had been raised.
“ As he ( Trump) relayed at the Vatican, the United States is proud to announce more than $ 300 million in anti - famine spending” for the area , a White House statement said .
His announcement came just a day after the US State Department laid out plans to put “ America first ” and slash Washington ’ s budget for diplomacy and foreign aid by more than 30 percent.
The deepest cuts will hit foreign assistance programmes and contributions by the world ’ s largest economy to international organisations like the United Nations and its global peacekeeping budget .
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