Ghana’s former President and African Union High Representative for Somalia, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings says though the United Nations has downgraded the famine situation in Somalia, the country was still at risk of a renewed crisis if humanitarian aid was cut. President Rawlings said an amount of $1.5 billion was required so Somalia does not return into a state of famine. In an address at the second annual conference of the Center for Technology and Economic Development (CTED) of the New York University in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Sunday, President Rawlings said a total of 9.5 million people still faced famine in the Horn of Africa with 2.3 million coming from Somalia alone. Speaking on the topic, “Somalia, the Horn of Africa and Food Security”, the AU High Representative said conflict had impacted negatively on food security in Somalia but expressed the confidence that the recent successes chalked by AMISOM and the TFG in liberating Mogadishu and other regions of Somalia will help to put in placemeasures to enhance food security. Earlier Professor Yaw Nyarko, renowned Professor of Economics and Director of the Center, described President Rawlings as “an emblem of humility and integrity” who has championed the cause of the common man. He recounted the role President Rawlings had played in the resolution of the conflicts in Liberia and Rwanda. Professor Nyarko also said President Rawlings played a huge role in creating international awareness on the humanitarian situation that engulfed the Horn of Africa in 2011. President Rawlings and his delegation also held a meeting with the Director General of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi.