Famine in Africa 2011
The Horn of Africa is suffering from the lowest rainfall in over 60 years.
Over 11 million persons are affected by severe drought and food crisis conditions.
The United Nations has stated that Somalia is experiencing “the most severe food crisis in the world today.”
Causes of the Famine in Africa
East Africa is facing the worst drought since the 1950s.
This cycle of Insufficient rains has caused severe droughts which has led to a humanitarian crisis in what is called the horn of Africa
Where is the Famine in Africa?
The countries affected are all in East Africa
- Somalia,
- Kenya,
- Djibouti,
- Ethiopia
- Uganda
With Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia being the worst affected.
Estimates are that 3.2 million people are effected in Somalia and 3.5 million in Kenya.
What is the current situation?
- The drought has withered crops, killed cattle and led to massive increases in food prices.
- Because of this many are facing starvation.
- Malnutrition rates have soared threatening communities in the region, leaving women and children the most vulnerable.
- Many are fleeing their homes and are now left with limited access to food, clean water and shelter.
- Malnutrition and disease are on the rise as families travel long distances in search of food.
- Record high food prices, internal conflicts, and insecurity in the region further exacerbate the situation.
- Death continue to rise among vulnerable groups including children under five and pregnant mothers.
Country Specific Statistics for the Famine in East Africa
Ethiopia
- Ethiopia faces its worst drought in a decade with more than 3 million people in need of emergency aid.
Somalia
- A combination of the worst drought in 60 years and relentless violence has plunged thousands of lives at risk if food and water cannot reach the most vulnerable.
- Somalia has one of the highest child and maternal mortality rates in the world. One in eight children dies before reaching the age of five and 1,600 women die for every 100,000 live births.
- Other social indicators for children are also among the worst in the world: one in three children is chronically malnourished, hardly a third of families have access to clean drinking water, just 30 per cent of children go to school
and on average people only live to the age of 47, according to UNICEF. - Malnutrition levels for children have soared. In many regions of Somalia, 30% to 50% of the children are malnourished.