The UN News Center quoted UNICEF Deputy Regional Director for East and South Africa Rania Dagash as warning UNICEF of an “inevitable explosion” in child mortality in the Horn of Africa due to food shortages. the world to act quickly to alleviate the crisis.

“The world needs to turn its attention to issues other than the Ukraine crisis, and we warn that if the world does not turn its back on the war in Ukraine and act immediately, the Horn of Africa is about to experience an explosion in child mortality. ,” she said.

Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia saw significant increases in the number of severely malnourished children admitted to hospital for treatment in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the first quarter of 2021.

Mortality rates are also worrisome, according to UNICEF: in some of the hardest-hit areas in the Horn of Africa, infant mortality rates were three times higher this year due to acute malnutrition with medical complications in treatment centers compared to the previous year. .

Between February and May, the number of families without a reliable source of clean and safe water nearly doubled from 5.6 million to 10.5 million.

The rains were blocked for four seasons in two years, resulting in the death of crops and livestock and the drying up of water sources.