East African Drought Leaves Millions Hungry

Ongoing drought in Mandera, in northeastern Kenya, has led to a severe water shortage that has also caused livestock deaths.

The severe drought that has parched much of East Africa this year continues to worsen while taking the lives of people, wildlife and livestock.

The charity Oxfam International has appealed for $15 million in emergency donations so it can provide 750,000 people with food assistance.

Paul Smith Lomas, Oxfam’s East Africa director, says that while the drought stretches from the Horn of Africa to Uganda, about 3.8 million Kenyans, a tenth of the population, now need emergency aid.

Climate change has caused the frequency of drought to increase from about once per decade to once every two or three years.

The current drought also threatens nearly 14 million Ethiopians with severe hunger.

The season of “short” rains is due to arrive in October, but forecasters believe it unlikely to bring more than scant relief.

Unexpected deluges could cause the situation to become dramatically worse, aid agencies say.

Photo: IRIN