Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Aug 26 (IANS): The UN has assured African countries that it is committed to work with them to end the suffering, currently gripping the Horn of Africa, following the ongoing drought and famine.

The Horn of Africa includes Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti countries of north Africa.

Representing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at a special African Union summit for pledging funds to support relief efforts, Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro said Secretary-General Ban has mobilised the UN system to join forces in responding to this critical situation.

"I am here on his behalf to pledge our continued full support," he said.

The African Union called the special summit Thursday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to raise funding from all UN Member States, non-government organisations and private sector firms to ease the suffering of the millions of people affected by the drought and famine in the Horn of Africa.

The summit raised over $350 million in cash and $28.8 million in cheque, which the chairperson of the African Union commission Jean Ping described as a remarkable achievement.