Horn of Africa Faces Urgent Humanitarian Crisis

UN humanitarian agencies have issued a warning that the Horn of Africa is experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis, with approximately 60 million people in urgent need of assistance. The region is grappling with climate-related challenges, armed conflicts, high food prices, and the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Liesbeth Aelbrecht, the incident manager for the greater Horn of Africa emergency at the World Health Organization (WHO), revealed that an estimated 5 million children under the age of five are facing acute malnutrition. This staggering figure of 10.4 million highlights the severity of the situation. Medical facilities are reporting the highest levels of severely malnourished children since the crisis began three years ago.
Dominique Ferretti, a Senior Emergency Officer at the World Food Programme (WFP), explained that three years of drought have given way to devastating flash floods. Although a rainy season offered some hope for relief, the floods caused significant damage to homes, farmland, and infrastructure, leading to disease outbreaks and increased food insecurity.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Agency (FAO) expressed concerns about the impact of climate change on food security in the coming months. They warned of the potential for El Niño weather patterns to bring above-average rains in some areas, but also highlighted the risk of below-average rains and dry spells, which would further worsen the alarming levels of food insecurity.
FAO emphasized the need for investments in measures such as rainwater harvesting, soil and water conservation, and the use of drought-tolerant crops. Shifting the focus from emergency response to long-term resilience-building is crucial.
The humanitarian crisis affects over 60 million people, including pregnant women, adolescent girls, and women of reproductive age. Lack of access to sufficient food has led to health complications for pregnant women and increased risks for maternal and child mortality. Additionally, limited resources have forced women and girls into situations of survival sex, increasing the risk of exploitation and abuse.
The potential discontinuation of the UN-brokered Black Sea Initiative, which facilitates Ukrainian grain exports, would significantly impact the Horn of Africa. Ukraine is a major supplier of grain and plays a vital role in food security in the region.
Re-reported from the article originally published in UN News