Millions affected by famine

The effects of global warming are raising its ugly head in many parts of the world today with certain parts of Africa and America experiencing severe drought conditions. The worst case scenario is reported from Africa. Many of you may have seen or heard of the severe hardships faced by millions of people in the Horn of Africa due to a famine; the result of a severe drought in the region

Those who are most affected are the children and UNICEF reports claim thatmillions of children will die if urgent measures are not taken to bring aid to them in the form of food and water. To those of us who have plenty to eat and fresh water to drink at the turn of a tap, the impact of a severe drought and famine and the suffering of those affected by it, may be hard to even imagine. But, this is an eye opener to all of us to not waste food and water and also be more aware of the environmental impacts of our careless actions.It is time we realised that the entire world is running the risk of facing a famine unless we change our course of actions now and become more responsible citizens of the world.

Let' s check out some facts about the current situation in the Horn of Africa .

The famine as we explained before is a result of a severe drought said to be "the worst in 60 years",that affected the entire Eastern Africa region. Lack of water to cultivate impacted the food stocks and it has caused a severe food crisis across Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya. The livelihood of more than 10 million people are under threat at the moment. The food crisis is not limited to the Horn of Africa.

Even other countries in and around the Horn of Africa such as Djibouti, Sudan, South Sudan and parts of Uganda, are also affected by a food crisis

The U.N. declared a famine in Somalia's southern Bakool and Lower Shabelle regions. The agency launched its largest ever relief effort to help those affected.The famine will spread to all eight provinces of Somalia if no immediate action is taken according to the officials.

The famine was declared in response to new data from U.N's food security and nutrition analysis unit, which showed that the situation in southern Somalia now meets all three characteristics of widespread famine: 1) more than 30 per cent of children suffering from acute malnutrition; 2) more than two adults or four children dying of hunger each day for every group of 10,000 people; and 3) the population having access to less than 2,100 kilo calories of food and four litres of water per day.

The crisis is getting worse by the day and appeals are made to the world at large to step in and help save those affected by this crisis.Humans as well as animals are suffering greatly without a morsel of food to eat and a drop of water to drink; their agonised cries are heart wrenching. So,think twice before you fuss about the food you have to eat and waste food or pollute water resources.

Millions,including children like you are paying with their dear life because of the manner in which we destroy the environment and waste its precious resources. Life is precious and we are all responsible for what is happening around the world today. Act with more responsibility to avoid the crisis in the Horn of Africa from spreading to the rest of the world in the future.

Fact file

* In early July, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS-Net) declared an emergency for large areas in southern Somalia, south eastern Ethiopia, and north eastern Kenya, which could culminate in widespread famine if the current conditions are not addressed.

* On July 20, the United Nations officially declared a famine in several parts of southern Somalia, the first time a famine has been declared since the 1984-1985 famine in Ethiopia, when over a million people died.

* Weather conditions over the Pacific, including an unusually strong La Nina have interrupted seasonal rains for two consecutive seasons. The rains failed this year in Kenya and Ethiopia, and for the last two years in Somalia.Rains are not expected to return until September 2011

* Large numbers of people from Somalia have fled to neighbouring countries, in particular Kenya and Ethiopia. The three refugee camps in Dadaab, Kenya currently host at least 440,000 people, though its maximum capacity is limited at 90,000.

* Within the camps, infant mortality has risen threefold in the last few months, according to the United Nations. The overall mortality rate is 7 out of 10,000 per day, which is more than thrice as high as a "normal crisis rate".

* Save the Children has reported that malnutrition rates among children in Kenya and Somalia have reached 30 per cent in some areas.

* The World Health Organization stated that "8.8 million people are at risk of malaria and 5 million of cholera" in Ethopia, due to crowded, unsanitary conditions.

* According to World Vision International, families are agreeing to give their daughters as young as 13 in arranged marriages just to earn money from the dowry so that they can purchase food.

* The World Food Programme (WFP), which is trying to feed 1.5m people, estimates that as many as 1 million people are in areas it cannot currently access.

* UN humanitarian agencies have requested US$ 1.6 billion to address the crisis, but so far secured only half that amount.

Facts and pix:Internet