Affected countries
The '2006 Horn of Africa food crisis' is an acute shortage of food affecting four
Horn of Africa countries:
Somalia,
Kenya,
Djibouti and
Ethiopia. The
United Nations's
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimated on
January 6,
2006, that more than 11 million people in these countries may be affected by an impending widespread
famine, largely attributed to a severe
drought, and exacerbated by military conflicts in the region.
[Millions of people are on the brink of starvation in the Horn of Africa, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) news release, 6 January 2006]
Causes
These conditions of
drought, together with other factors including high cereal prices, overpopulation in the region, and conflict, are leading to conditions of
famine. In the present 2006 drought, claims about factors transforming drought into famine include a ban on livestock imports to markets in the
Persian Gulf States, which has reduced the income of livestock-dependent farmers, further increasing
food insecurity.
[Pre-famine conditions confront Somali region - Reuters AlertNet] The next chance for drought relief is in March, with the next rainy season.
Current situation
Djibouti
Djibouti is severely drought affected; the
FAO estimates that about one third of the population (400 000 people) need food aid.
Ethiopia
The FAO estimates more than one million people[ in the Somali Region of Ethiopia are facing severe food shortages. Although crops are currently being harvested, shortages are still expected to occur in the country's south-east.]
Kenya
Crop failure, drought and depleted livestock herds have led to famine conditions in Kenya, particularly in the northern and eastern pastoral districts of Mandera, Wajir, and Marsabit.[Season failure precipitates crisis, Famine Early Warning Systems Network, 28 December 2005] As of January 6, 2006, approximately 30 deaths have been reported. Some 2.5 million people (10% of the population)[ require food aid over the next six months. President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya has declared a national disaster.][Food aid theft hurts Kenya's starving millions - Reuters AlertNet]
Somalia
The situation in Somalia is the worst of the four countries. About two million people [ in the country's southern pastoral regions require humanitarian assistance. The lack of a very long and hard central government and poor transportation infrastructure pose problems for the distribution of food aid.][The dangers of taking food aid to Somalia, BBC News, 3 May 2006]
Relief effort
In February 2006, UNICEF warned that 1.5 million children under the age of five are being threatened by the drought and called for USD$16 million to help fund its relief efforts in the region. [ Unicef Seeks Aid As Millions Suffer in Drought-Hit Horn of Africa ]
See also
★ 2005 Malawi food crisis
★ 2005-06 Niger food crisis
Notes
External links
★ "Horn of Africa Famine Imminent says FAO", Adankronos International, January 6 2006
★ Africa Weather Hazards Assessment - USAID FEWS-NET (Famine Early Warning Systems Network)
★ Crops & Drought: Drought in East Africa - NASA Earth Observatory, Natural hazards.
★ The Food Crisis in Africa, Integrated Regional Information Networks, overview with updates
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