The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warns that an estimated 13 million people in Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia are facing severe hunger as the Horn of Africa experiences its worst drought in decades.
In a statement Tuesday, Regional Director in the WFP Regional Bureau for Eastern Africa Michael Dunford, said three consecutive rainy seasons have failed as the region has recorded its driest conditions since 1981.
Dunford said the drought has destroyed crops and inflicted abnormal high livestock deaths, forcing rural families who rely on herding and farming to abandon their homes.
“Harvests are ruined, livestock are dying, and hunger is growing as recurrent droughts affect the Horn of Africa,” said Dunford.
“The situation requires immediate humanitarian action and consistent support to build the resilience of communities for the future.” He added.
He added that water and grazing land is in short supply and forecasts of below-average rainfall in coming months only threaten more misery.
The drought has impacted pastoral and farmer populations across southern and south-eastern Ethiopia, south-eastern and northern Kenya and south-central Somalia.
The impacts are compounded by increases in staple food prices, inflation, and low demand for agricultural labour, further worsening families’ ability to buy food. Malnutrition rates also remain high across the region and could worsen if no immediate action is taken.
Across the three drought-affected countries,he said WFP is providing life saving food and nutrition assistance to affected communities.
Additionally, WFP cash grants and insurance schemes are helping families buy food to keep their livestock alive or compensating them for their losses.
As needs across the Horn of Africa grow, Dunford said immediate assistance is critical to avoid a major humanitarian crisis, like the one the world witnessed in 2011 when 250,000 people died of hunger in Somalia.
This week WFP launches its Regional Drought Response Plan for the Horn of Africa, calling for US$ 327 million to respond to the immediate needs of 4.5 million people over the next six months and help communities become more resilient to extreme climate shocks.
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