Summary:
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Response plans are just 50% financed, even though almost 21 million people experience severe food insecurity, and some regions of Somalia are still expected to experience famine.
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“They pleaded with the world to prevent a catastrophe similar to the 2011 East Africa drought, which resulted in the deaths of 260,000 people in Somalia, most of whom perished before famine was declared.
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Because they have minimal access to food, water, and other resources, 1.77 million people have left their homes.
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Heavy rains are anticipated.
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According to the partners, the situation is getting worse because the October to December rains got off to a bad start, especially in Kenya and southern Somalia.
The longest and most severe drought in recent memory is expected to last well into the upcoming year. Humanitarians must immediately get ready to continue their life-saving efforts in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia.
Response plans are just 50% financed, even though almost 21 million people experience severe food insecurity, and some regions of Somalia are still expected to experience famine.
Recurrent fear of starvation
The partners referred to the humanitarian classification scale for food insecurity. They said, “Despite the inherent uncertainty of rainfall estimates, there is substantial confidence about the urgent need for global cooperation and solidarity to avert a Famine (IPC Phase 5) in the months ahead.”
They pleaded with the world to prevent a catastrophe similar to the 2011 East Africa drought, which resulted in the deaths of 260,000 people in Somalia, most of whom perished before famine was declared.
The cumulative levels of excess mortality could reach comparable to 2011, given the rising death rates in many places, the magnitude of the people affected, and the likelihood that the crisis will last for some time.
To take action, we cannot and must not wait for a famine (IPC Phase 5) to be proclaimed or for more dry seasons to occur, according to their statement.
A rise in child fatalities
The partners noted that there had been notable increases in severe acute malnutrition over the whole Horn of Africa region.
It is estimated that 7.5 million children under the age of five are affected, 1.85 million of whom are dealing with the most severe form of the disease.
Also on the rise are child fatalities. According to a recent analysis, between March and June, during the Gu rainy season in Somalia, there were more than two deaths per 10,000 people per day across the four population groups evaluated.
Breakouts of several diseases
More than 23.7 million people struggle daily to get water access, making them more susceptible to water-borne illnesses.
In addition, the condition causes women and children to walk long distances to obtain water, increasing their vulnerability to abuse and exploitation.
The statement noted that numerous current disease outbreaks, including cholera and measles, for which health outcomes are worse when combined with malnutrition, are a serious public health concern. “The drought implications on health risks are particularly severe,” it added.
Because they have minimal access to food, water, and other resources, 1.77 million people have left their homes.
More than 40,000 of these people have sought asylum in neighbouring nations since the start of the year and are currently internally displaced.
Heavy rains are anticipated.
According to the partners, the situation is getting worse because the October to December rains got off to a bad start, especially in Kenya and southern Somalia.
For the period from 1 October through 15 November, these places are predicted to receive rainfall totals less than 60% of average, with some of the areas affected having the worst season’s beginning on record.
Concerningly, there is widespread agreement among meteorological institutions that the likelihood of prolonged below-average rains for the rest of the season is strong, leading to an unheard-of fifth consecutive dismal season.
Additionally, preparations should be prepared in case the March to May rains turn out to be below average, setting a record-breaking sixth straight dismal season.
Whatever the rainfall totals are for the following year, the partners warned that “recovery from a drought of this size will take years, with the extraordinarily high humanitarian needs certain to linger and even increase in 2023.”
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Analysis by: Advocacy Unified Network
