The House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Africa and the House Select committee on Hunger held a joint committee hearing on the continuing famine and violence occurring in the horn of Africa. The continuing drought in Kenya, Ethiopia and the Sudan threatens to reduce the remaining food supplies for over 20 million people in the region. Adding to the crisis, Ethiopia’s civil war continues to create chaos in efforts to relieve the famine. On May 21, the leader of the Ethiopian government, Mengistu Haile Mariam, fled the country, leaving a caretaker government in power. Hostilities continue between Eritrean rebels fighting for independence, supporters of the former government, and demonstrators protesting the new government and American involvement in Ethiopian affairs. Witnesses testified on the extent of the famine in Africa, and proposed methods to relieve the masses affected by the famine despite the chaotic state of the Ethiopian government. They also testified on the Horn of Recovery act, a piece of legislation written to provide long-term aid for the people and countries in Africa. The hearing watched a segment of the television program “60 Minutes” on the extent of the famine in Africa.