The UK’s Minister for Africa has issued a damning warning that the Horn of Africa is suffering it’s worst drought in decades with millions suffering its impact.
“It’s beyond imagination,” says the minister, Vicky Ford.
More than seven million people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance.
This has led to mass displacements as people trek for hundreds of kilometres in a desperate search for food and water.
Four consecutive failed rainy seasons, armed conflict, rising food costs and the impact of Covid-19 are fuelling this enormous humanitarian crisis.
The UK minister is now calling for partners and international donors to act urgently to prevent a large-scale loss of life.
In Somalia alone, more than 380,000 children are considered severely malnourished and at risk of dying before the end of the year, according to Ms Ford.
The UK government has committed to spend £150m ($178m) this year in humanitarian assistance in the Horn of Africa region. So far, £76m have been spent.
Somalia is the worst affected country but millions more in southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya are also suffering because of the drought.
