Nearly 63 million people face food insecurity in the Horn of Africa
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) issued an urgent announcement that nearly 63 million people across the Horn of Africa are struggling with severe food insecurity and 11 million children are suffering from acute malnutrition. and is in dire need of humanitarian aid.
A report released by IGAD in Nairobi, Kenya on August 22 highlighted that conflict, climate change, rising inflation and growing public debt have exacerbated the hunger and malnutrition crisis nursing in the area.
IGAD’s executive secretary, Workneh Gebeyehu, stated: “These numbers reflect a humanitarian crisis in our region. Extreme climate events and economic crises are leading to Food insecurity is at unprecedented levels, putting millions of lives at risk.”
Gebeyehu called on the seven IGAD member countries—Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda—to strengthen the resilience of local communities struggling with food insecurity and hunger. water due to climate change.
The IGAD report notes that the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, five consecutive seasons of inadequate rainfall, El Niño-related flooding and inter-communal conflict have fueled the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa. Africa becomes more serious.
It is predicted that 25% of the population analyzed in the seven IGAD countries will experience severe food insecurity by 2024, with ongoing conflict in Sudan pushing millions to the brink of famine .
The report shows that widespread poverty, illiteracy, resource conflicts, inequality and climate crisis have led to food scarcity in the Horn of Africa, where a growing number of people face with hunger rising from 61.9 million people in 2023 to nearly 63 million in 2024. .
Abdi Fidar, head of the IGAD Center for Climate Forecasting and Applications, emphasized that the region must address the root causes of hunger and malnutrition, such as conflict, persistent drought and recession environment, to prevent a humanitarian crisis.
Fidar suggests that to build the resilience of local communities, governments should invest in early-yielding, climate-resilient agriculture and increase preventative measures such as hay and water storage for livestock.
On the same day, August 22, the European Union (EU) announced an additional allocation of 122 million euros (about 135 million USD) of humanitarian aid to three Horn of Africa countries: Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan.
The European Commission (EC) said the EU is disbursing an additional 122 million euros in humanitarian aid to the Horn of Africa, as the region continues to face the impact of conflicts and climate-related disasters such as drought and flood.
Of this additional aid, 42 million euros will be allocated to Ethiopia, 40 million euros to Somalia and 40 million euros to South Sudan, bringing the total EU aid to these countries to date to more than 421 million euros. million euros.
The EC emphasized that more than 70 million people in the Horn of Africa are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance.
