At the end of the 20th century and at the start of the 21st century, the United States has been providing large amounts of humanitarian support to countries in Africa. Which of these is a reason for most of that support?

The United States has provided significant amounts of humanitarian support to African countries at the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century for several reasons:

1. **Humanitarian Concerns and Disaster Response**: The primary reason for humanitarian support is often to provide relief to individuals and communities affected by natural disasters, famines, and epidemics. For example, the U.S. has responded to crises such as the Horn of Africa droughts, West African Ebola outbreak, and other emergencies by providing food aid, medical assistance, and funding to help those affected.

2. **Combating Infectious Diseases**: Initiatives such as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), established in 2003 to combat global HIV/AIDS, has been a significant part of U.S. support to Africa. The program has provided billions of dollars to support treatment, prevention, and research, thereby saving millions of lives.

3. **Political Stability and Conflict Resolution**: The U.S. has provided support to help resolve conflicts and promote political stability. In regions affected by civil war and political unrest, such as Sudan/South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, humanitarian assistance has aimed to alleviate the suffering of displaced populations and support the transition to stability.

4. **Economic Development**: Supporting economic development to help reduce poverty and increase economic opportunities has been an ongoing focus. This includes aid geared towards improving education, infrastructure, and governance to foster sustainable development.

5. **Security Concerns**: In some cases, humanitarian support has been linked to security objectives. Helping African countries to build stable societies is seen as a way to prevent the spread of extremism and reduce the threat to international security.

6. **Global Health Initiatives**: The U.S. has also focused on improving global health through support for immunization programs, maternal and child health, and strengthening health systems. Programs like the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria are examples where the U.S. has been a key donor.

7. **International Commitment and Diplomacy**: As part of its international commitments, the U.S. provides humanitarian aid to bolster its diplomatic relationships and show global leadership on humanitarian issues.

Each of these reasons can overlap with others, reflecting the complex interplay of humanitarian concerns, strategic interests, and global health objectives in U.S. foreign aid policy. U.S. humanitarian support to Africa is often part of broader international efforts involving the United Nations, other countries, and a range of non-governmental organizations.