These areas, where most of the population is engaged in animal husbandry and farming, have had no rainfall in the last three rainy seasons since late 2020, in addition to a locust invasion that has destroyed crops in between of 2019 and 2021.
“The Horn of Africa makes up 4% of the world’s population, but includes 20% of the population with food insecurity,” Michael Dunford, director of the World Food Program for East Africa, said on February 11th.
The United Nations reports that 5.7 million people are in need of food assistance in southern and southeastern Ethiopia, including half a million malnourished children and mothers. Also in eastern and northern Kenya, where the country’s president declared a state of national disaster in September, 2.8 million people are in need of assistance.
In Somalia, where the number of people seriously hungry could rise from 4.3 million to 4.6 million in May without immediate intervention. In November, authorities declared a humanitarian emergency.
The representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Somalia Victor Senyama said malnutrition in the country had “grown into a crisis”, calling for “act now”. “If we wait for the situation to worsen or declare famine, it may be too late,” he said.
Interestingly, in 2017, early humanitarian mobilization averted a famine in Somalia, in contrast to 2011, when 260,000 people died from hunger or hunger-related problems, half of them children under six years of age.
Currently, only 2.3 percent of the $ 1.46 billion UN appeal to meet Somalia’s needs by 2022 has been met.
“There is a short period of time for action (…) We are really on the brink of disaster,” said Ryan Poulsen, Director of the FAO’s Office of Emergencies and Stability last week.
He added: “We have (…) until the middle of this year, until June, to strengthen immediate action and prevent the worst situations.”
In addition to the direct deadly consequences, water scarcity and lack of pastures are sources of rivalry, especially among pastoralists.
As for pets, which are the main source of livelihood in the region, they are dying in large numbers. At least 1.4 million animals have died in Kenya, according to the National Drought Management Authority.
Known for its nature reserves and national parks, wildlife in this country is also endangered, as many wild animals, including giraffes and antelopes, have died due to lack of water and food. In some cases, animals leave their natural habitat in search of water and food.
