Unfolding Food Crisis in Horn of Africa – shouldn’t we be doing more?

The Disaster Emergencies Committee (DEC) appeals to help up to 10 million people facing starvation in parts of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia are being broadcasted by ITV/ITN, BBC, Sky, Channel 4 and Channel Five. Money raised will be used by agencies such as Christian Aid to access remote and difficult to reach areas across East Africa with food, water,therapeutic feeding for malnourished children and medical treatment.

The Consortium of British Humanitarian Agencies (CBHA) says a lack of seasonal rains has led to failed harvests, acute water and pasture shortages, and the deaths of thousands of animals in the region. Thousands of people have already fled their homes in search of water and grass for their livestock.

In some areas of Somalia and northern Kenya up to 30 percent of the population is suffering from acute malnutrition, which is double the amount sufficient to declare a humanitarian emergency. A lot of children who are under five have already died from disease related to malnutrition.

The CBHA has allocated over £500,000 to its member agencies to provide urgent support such as clean water, food, and protection for surviving livestock to those in the most immediate need but has warned that a lack of funding is continuing to hamper the response.

Early warning systems mean humanitarian agencies have become increasingly efficient in spotting potential emergencies before they reach critical stages, but the CBHA has warned that the current drought has the potential to be as devastating as that of 2009 if appropriate action is not taken immediately.

“We know the lessons from previous disasters and we have a moral responsibility to act, but we are limited by this lack of funding at a critical time,” Sean Lowrie said.

Members of the CBHA include ActionAid, Action Against Hunger, CARE International UK, CAFOD, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide UK, HelpAge International, International Rescue Committee UK, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Merlin, Oxfam GB, Plan International UK, Save the Children UK, Tearfund and World Vision UK.

Is global climate change one of the major causes of this drought? In the face of such catastrophic disaster, do we helplessly stand by and watch or is there anything that you and I can do?

BBC Article

Guardian Article