Hunger, in East Africa

Nairobi — The East African region is facing its worst famine in nearly 60 years. Up to 11 million people are affected, which has forced the United Nations to declare the first famine in the region in 25 years.

The crisis is particularly acute in war-ravaged Somalia, where an estimated 10,000 people have died for far, and another three million people need food assistance. In Kenya, 3.6 million people are starving and in Ethiopia, the number stands at 4.5 million.

While the famine and the humanitarian crisis in Somalia is starting to be described in biblical terms, in neighbouring countries, it could lead to major problems and cause conflict with, particularly, its Tanzania and Ethiopian neighbours.

Nearly 2,000 refugees -- most of them mothers supporting starving babies -- are crossing Kenya's northern border daily into overwhelmed refugee camps like Dadaab, and the government is sounding the alarm over the security threat posed by the unfolding humanitarian crisis.

In all, a reported 800,000 people have streamed into overcrowded refugee camps in neighbouring countries.

Assistant Minister for Internal Security Joshua Orwa Ojode conceded that the continued inflow of Somalis seeking food is a major threat to Kenya's security.

Sh62bn boost for war on hunger

Efforts to tackle East Africa’s worst food crisis have received a major boost with the World Bank pledging Sh62 billion.

The funds will, however, be disbursed in three phases — the rapid response, which covers the first six months, the economic recovery (two years) and the drought resilience phase, which will be implemented over a longer period.

Country director Johannes Zutt said an initial Sh8 billion would be made available to support the most affected areas over the next six months, out of which Sh810 million was immediately available.

The money is from the donor- funded Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery and other trust funds.
“In the economic and drought recovery phases, Sh54 billion will be made available to facilitate recovery of crop and livestock production, help countries improve land management, prevent situations like this drought and adapt to climate change,” Mr Zutt said at a news conference in Nairobi on Friday.

The region is facing one of its worst droughts, with more than 11 million people in both the arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Burundi, among others, being affected.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1fN1Yx-WQ0