Home / Environment / Drought Pushes Horn of Africa to Brink of Famine
Drought Pushes Horn of Africa to Brink of Famine
16 Feb
Summary
- Over 3 million Somalis displaced by a devastating drought.
- Nearly 6 million people in Somalia require urgent humanitarian aid.
- Successive failed rains and livestock deaths strain region's resources.
The Horn of Africa faces a critical humanitarian crisis as a severe drought, intensified by climate change, threatens widespread famine. In Somalia, over 3 million people have been forced from their homes due to the devastating impact on rural areas. Approximately 6 million individuals in the East African nation require assistance, with 1.85 million of those being children exhibiting signs of malnutrition and wasting.
Four consecutive failed rainy seasons have decimated crops and livestock across the region, with Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya bearing the brunt. While conditions have peaked in Somalia, neighboring countries are also struggling. Kenya faces hunger for over 2 million people, and livestock communities report emaciated animals. This mirrors a more severe drought from 2020-2023, which caused millions of livestock deaths, significantly impacting Somalia's GDP.
Climate change is identified as the driver of these extreme weather events, disproportionately affecting countries like Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya, which contribute minimally to global carbon emissions. The situation is described as desperate, with fears of famine looming. Masses are fleeing rural areas to camps seeking aid, but resources are scarce, and local communities are strained. The coming months are critical for intervention to prevent widespread famine.
