Joint humanitarian efforts have eased the impact of the worst drought in two generations in the Horn of Africa. Photo: Ap
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned this Friday that more than 20 million children are at risk of severe hunger, disease and thirst due to the Horn of Africa’s drought, the worst “in more than two generations”.
UNICEF said the number of children suffering severe drought conditions in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia has doubled in five months with which 20.2 million are now in this situation compared to the 10 million in July, a situation exacerbated by climate change, conflict, inflation and grain shortages.
“While collective and accelerated efforts have mitigated some of the worst feared impacts, children in the Horn of Africa are facing the worst drought in more than two generations,” said the Agency’s Deputy Director for East and Southern Africa, Lieke van de Wiel.
“Humanitarian assistance must continue to save lives and build resilience for the incredible number of children and families who are being pushed into the abyss, dying of starvation and disease, and displaced in search of food, water and pasture for their livestock be,” he explained.
For example, UNICEF said nearly two million children in these three countries needed urgent treatment for acute malnutrition, the deadliest form of hunger, while more than two million people were displaced by drought in the Horn of Africa.
(With information from La Jornada)
See also:
Oxfam: ‘The East African region is suffering from an alarming hunger crisis’