WESTPORT, Conn. (24 September 2009) Persistent drought
compounded by higher than average food prices have created East Africa's worst food crisis in decades. Millions of children face the greatest risks, including severe malnutrition, disease, and
death. But official food aid is falling well short of increased needs, particularly in Ethiopia. Across the Horn of Africa, an estimated 20 million people will need emergency humanitarian
assistance through the end of this year. In comparison, last year – when drought, high food prices, and conflict were also at issue – only 14 million needed such assistance in Ethiopia,
Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda. "We've not seen a food crisis of this magnitude and severity in many years, and it is children who will suffer the most if the world
fails to respond quickly," said Ned Olney, Save the Children's vice president for Global Humanitarian Response. "In Ethiopia, millions of subsistence farmers are dependent on
weather patterns they cannot control," he said. "Now their children face not only hunger, but the increased vulnerability to deadly disease that accompanies severe malnutrition. These kids
need help now." Cases of acute watery diarrhoea are on the rise in Ethiopia, with 1,354 new cases and three deaths reported in just one week this month. Meanwhile, food aid is
lagging behind greatly increased needs. The United Nations' World Food Program estimates a current shortfall of US$400 million worth of food needed to reach hungry families in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian government estimates that 6.2 million people, half of them children, will need emergency food aid in the next few months. These needs are beyond those of the 8.2 million
people in Ethiopia already receiving food aid through the Productive Safety Net Program run by the government together with Save the Children and other humanitarian agencies. That programme
distributes food in exchange for community participation in public works, such as road, water well, and school construction and rehabilitation. In response to the current crisis, Save the
Children plans to distribute food to 800,000 people in some of Ethiopia's hardest hit areas, and is expanding emergency health and nutrition programmes. These programmes include therapeutic
feeding centres for severely malnourished children and supplementary feeding programmes for severely and moderately malnourished children.
Sickness Worsens a Grave Situation
Save
the Children is also developing and expanding water and sanitation programmes to reduce cases of acute diarrhoea. Additionally, Save the Children is working with refugee populations in
the Somali region, and plans to expand educational programmes currently serving 4,500 children in the Boqolmayo refugee camp. Save the Children also provides psychosocial counselling
and health and nutrition support as needed to unaccompanied children in the refugee camp. With additional funds, these services could expand to help these children reunite with their families.
More information
Save the Children has worked in Ethiopia since the 1930s, and has had a permanent programme there since the 1970s. The agency responded to the food crisis of 1984
and has continued to provide life-saving services in times of severe food shortage.
Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world, and Save the Children is dedicated to
supporting long-term development projects to help families and communities better support themselves. Programmes include health care interventions to reduce high rates of child mortality and HIV/AIDS
prevention and support programs. Save the Children also works closely with pastoralist communities, providing alternative basic education for children who cannot attend school, and livelihoods support
so their parents need not sell off their animals — often their only assets — during times of hardship. Please contact Kate
Conradt, (+1 202 640 6631) Director, Media and Communications, Save the Children US for media enquiries. Find out more about our work in East Africa
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
Michael Ranneberger, the U.S. envoy to Kenya, addresses a news conference at his residence in Kenya's capital Nairobi, September 24, 2009. The United States has sent warning letters to 15 prominent ...
Find out more about our work in East Africa
