Harriet Harman, Labour's Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, commenting on the Written Ministerial Statement on UK assistance in the Horn of Africa said:

"I strongly support the assistance the UK Government is providing to tackle the serious humanitarian emergency in the Horn of Africa. It is vital that there is action now to avert a famine and to save lives.  I support their call on other members of the international community to step up action in order to prevent a catastrophe.

"In the UK there are many people of Somali, Kenyan, Ugandan and Ethiopian origin who will be incredibly worried about events in the Horn of Africa. The Government must bring representatives from those Diaspora communities together who can share their knowledge and who will want to know what is happening to their relatives and friends at home. It is vital that the Government consults them and ensures they are kept fully up to date with events in the region."