Expressing the sense of the Senate on humanitarian crises in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen.

Expressing the sense of the Senate on humanitarian crises in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen. Whereas Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen are all in famine, pre-famine, or at risk of famine Whereas, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), 20,000,000 people are at risk of starvation within the next six months in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen; Whereas, on March 22, 2017, Mr. Yves Daccord, the Director-General of the International Committee of the Red Cross, testified that the crisis represents one of the most critical humanitarian issues to face mankind since the end of the Second World War we are at the brink of a humanitarian mega-crisis unprecedented in recent history Whereas, according to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), More than 5.1 million people face severe food insecurity in northeastern Nigeria Whereas, according to USAID, An estimated 6.2 million peoplemore than half of Somalias total populationcurrently require urgent humanitarian assistance. Whereas, according to USAID, An estimated 5.5 million peoplenearly half of South Sudans populationwill face life threatening hunger by July. Whereas, according to USAID, in Yemen, More than seventeen million peoplean astounding 60% of the countrys populationare food insecure, including seven million people who are unable to survive without food assistance. Whereas, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Some 22 million children have been left hungry, sick, displaced and out of school in the four countries. Nearly 1.4 million are at imminent risk of death this year from severe malnutrition. Whereas the humanitarian crises in each of these regions are, to varying degrees, man-made and preventableexacerbated by armed conflict, disregard for international humanitarian law, and deliberate restrictions on humanitarian access; Whereas parties to the conflicts have harassed, attacked, and killed humanitarian workers, blocking and hindering humanitarian access and depriving the worlds most hungry people of the food they need; Whereas humanitarian actors, coordinated by UNOCHA, are appealing for $5,600,000,000 in 2017 to address famines in Yemen, South Sudan, Nigeria, and Somalia, $4,400,000,000 of which is required urgently; and Whereas Mr. Daccord testified on March 22, 2017, Our message is clear: immediate, decisive action is needed to prevent vast numbers of people starving to death. That (1) it is the sense of the Senate that (A) United States national security interests and the values of the American people demand that the United States lead an urgent and comprehensive international diplomatic effort to address obstacles in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen that are preventing humanitarian aid from being delivered to millions of people who desperately need it; (B) the President should encourage other governments to join the United States in providing the resources necessary to meet the $5,600,000,000 UNOCHA appeal to address the humanitarian crises in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen; (C) parties to the conflicts in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen must respect fully international humanitarian law by allowing and facilitating rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need and respecting and protecting humanitarian and medical relief personnel and objects; and (D) the President, working with international partners, should work to identify and document violations of international humanitarian law in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen seeking to bring perpetrators to justice where possible; and (2) the Senate (A) urges the President, in close coordination with international partners, to employ every appropriate strategy to persuade the Government of South Sudan to stop blocking aid for people who desperately need it; (B) calls on the President to notify Congress without delay if the Government of South Sudan does not immediately and fully respect international humanitarian law so that Congress can work with the President to impose additional costs on the government and leaders of South Sudan for their deplorable actions; (C) urges the President to press the Government of Nigeria to take tangible and immediate steps to ensure accountability for security forces that violate human rights and fail to cooperate fully with international aid efforts; (D) calls on the President to send the Secretary of State or other high level representative to attend the upcoming United Kingdoms Ministerial Conference on Somalia and publicly announce a contribution to the humanitarian assistance efforts which will help leverage other international donors; and (E) urges the President to work urgently with stakeholders to persuade parties to conflict in Yemen to permit humanitarian groups increased access to Red Sea ports like Hodeida to deliver much-needed assistance to vulnerable communities.

Summary: Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) an urgent and comprehensive international diplomatic effort is necessary to address obstacles in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen that are preventing humanitarian aid from being delivered; and (2) the contributions of U.S. charities, non-profit organizations, religious organizations, and businesses have an important role in addressing humanitarian crises. Calls for the United States to: (1) encourage other governments to join in providing the resources necessary to address the humanitarian crises in those countries, and (2) work with international partners to support efforts to hold accountable those responsible for deliberate restrictions on humanitarian access in those countries. Calls for parties to the conflicts in those countries to: (1) allow and facilitate passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need, and (2) respect and protect humanitarian and medical relief personnel and objects.