13 million people facing hunger as drought intensifies in Horn of Africa
Nairobi, Kenya, Feb 8 (EFE).- An estimated 13 million people across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia are facing severe hunger as the Horn of Africa is experiencing its worst drought since 1981, the World Food Programme said Tuesday.
“Harvests are ruined, livestock are dying, and hunger is growing as recurrent droughts affect the Horn of Africa,” Michael Dunford, Regional Director in the WFP Regional Bureau for Eastern Africa, said in a statement.
The region has experienced three consecutive failed rainy seasons which have caused “abnormally” high livestock deaths and the driest conditions in over 40 years.
“The situation requires immediate humanitarian action and consistent support to build the resilience of communities for the future,” he added.
The shortages of water and pastures are not only forcing families to migrate but leading to conflict between communities.
WFP is providing life saving food and nutrition to the affected countries to avoid a major humanitarian crisis like the one in 2011, when 250,000 people died of hunger in Somalia. EFE
pm/mp/ks
