Famine Plagues Horn of Africa
A Cry for help
28 September 2011
The UN declaration of famine in the Horn of Africa is the first official declaration since almost a million people in Ethiopia starved to death in 1984. There are 2 criterion to declare a famine:
2 deaths daily per every 10,000 people affected.
30% of children suffering from acute hunger.
On July 20th the UN declared the Horn of Africa in a state of famine:
7 people are dying per every 10,000 people affected.
More than 50% of children are suffering from acute hunger.
This is the worst drought experienced in the area in the last 60 years.
More than 10,000 people have died already.
The livelihood of more than 12 million people is threatened as they are in dire need of food aid.
In Somalia, if urgent action is not taken, it is predicted the famine will spread to all eight provinces of the country. Water, Food and basic necessities have become inaccessible to most people.
More than 800,000 people have fled the most drought affected areas in search of survival. People are flocking into camps in Kenya and Ethiopia. Many people have walked hundreds of kilometers seeking help.
In Kenya the largest refugee camps are in Dadaab. Originally these camps were established to house 90,000 people. However, as of July 20, 2011 their capacity was exceeded, housing a refugee population of 440,000 people with 1,400 additional people arriving daily.
The World Health Organization stated that “8.8 million people are at risk of malaria and 5 million of cholera”. The problem is expected to worsen as the rains are not anticipated to arrive until October of this year. The shortage of man power due to mass fleeing will affect future agricultural production as well. Staple prices have risen by up to 240% in southern Somalia, 117% in south eastern Ethiopia, and 58% in northern Kenya.
The Church of the Nazarene through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries wants to mobilize resources to assist suffering people. These efforts will address issues of malnutrition, hunger, shelter, sanitation and other basic necessities.
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