×

Our award-winning reporting has moved

Context provides news and analysis on three of the world’s most critical issues:

climate change, the impact of technology on society, and inclusive economies.

“Immediate and expansive” action needed as millions face starvation in the Horn of Africa

by IFRC | International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
Friday, 10 February 2017 12:14 GMT

* Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.

PRESS RELEASE “Immediate and expansive” action needed as millions face starvation in the Horn of Africa

 

Nairobi, 10 February 2017 — Prolonged and worsening drought conditions across Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya means that more than 11 million people are facing severe hunger and are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is calling for an immediate and expansive response in order to prevent widespread drought conditions from triggering a humanitarian catastrophe.

“We are undoubtedly in a crisis, but the situation will even get worse, especially if the April rains perform poorly,” said Dr Fatoumata Nafo-Traoré, IFRC’s Regional Director for Africa. “We need to act decisively, we need to act massively, and we need to act now if we are to prevent a repeat of the awful scenes of 2011.”

The situation is particularly severe in Somalia where nearly 40 per cent of the population now needs some form of humanitarian assistance and where deaths have already been reported in the country’s north.

In Kenya, water sources have dried up, leading to large-scale loss of livestock. In Ethiopia, the worst drought in half a century is further compounded by an influx of people fleeing Somalia.

The IFRC is calling on its partners in the region and globally to increase their support for Red Cross and Red Crescent emergency operations that are already underway, but that are hindered by low levels of funding. Additional funding will allow volunteers and staff present in the worst affected areas to better respond to immediate humanitarian needs, as well as begin rolling out initiatives designed to strengthen longer-term resilience.

The IFRC is appealing for a total of 13.7 million Swiss francs (about 13 million US dollars) for the three affected countries with a view to supporting nearly 475,000 people.

So far only about 22 per cent of the requested amount has been secured.

“This is the worst situation we have seen in the region since 2011, when more than a quarter of a million people died in Somalia alone,” said Dr Nafo-Traoré. “We have an opportunity to prevent suffering of a similar scale, but only if we act now.”

For more information contact:

 

In Nairobi: Euloge Ishimwe, Communications Manager, Africa, Mobile: +254 731 688 613,

Email: euloge.ishimwe@ifrc.org

 

In Geneva: Matthew Cochrane, Manager, Media and Advocacy, Mobile: +41 79 308 98 04,

Email:matthew.cochrane@ifrc.org

 

About the IFRC

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies reaches 160 million people each year through its 190-member National Societies. It acts before, during and after disasters and health emergencies to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people. It does so with impartiality as to nationality, race, gender, religious beliefs, class and political opinions.

More information about IFRC can be found at www.ifrc.org

-->