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Former President, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings on Thursday told delegates at a Pledging Conference in Addis Ababa to raise urgent funds for famine victims in the Horn of Africa, to rise up to the challenge and convince �the rest of the world that we are not incapable of supporting our own when the need arises.� A statement issued in Accra on Friday said he was delivering his address as African Union High Representative for Somalia and Face of the Humanitarian Situation in the Horn of Africa. Former President Rawlings said Africa must also take the opportunity to explore avenues to permanently end the conflict in Somalia. �Over 12 million people face starvation and need help, but to minimise this debilitating scourge we must look at permanently resolving the situation in Somalia, which has affected this region. We must take this opportunity to jointly seek a permanent solution to the Somalia crisis. Allowing the TFG to operate in a state of perpetual transition will give ammunition for further conflict and mitigate the minimal successes chalked�, Former President Rawlings said. Former President Rawlings whose address was interspersed with applause, also received praise from Nigeria for his efforts at sensitizing the continent on the humanitarian crisis. Nigerian Foreign Minister, Olugbenga Ashiru, in announcing Nigeria�s pledge of two million dollars, expressed his country�s gratitude to Ex-President Rawlings for his untiring efforts at sensitizing the continent on the dire situation in the Horn of Africa. The former Ghanaian Head of State also met and interacted with 11-year-old Andrew Andasi Bonnah who raised $4,000 for Somali children. The Pledging Conference raised $350 million on Thursday.