Save the Children:the region is facing soaring levels of hunger due to severe drought situation – Somali National News Agency
As the drought continues, 20 million East Africans are in danger of starvation. It has been the longest drought in four decades, with four consecutive rainy seasons failing to materialize.
To make matters worse, the conflict in Ukraine, which is thousands of kilometers away from here, is fueling the crisis. It’s sending the price of essentials like wheat, sunflower oil and fuel spiralling upwards, meaning the most vulnerable families can’t get the basics they need to survive.
Resilient communities are being overpowered. Kenyan families are forced by dry riverbeds to find water. Our teams have received reports from Ethiopia that hungry monkeys are attacking children and women.
I spoke with families in Somalia about the unfolding disaster. Three children were buried by their mother in the last year due to malnutrition. It is almost impossible to imagine how strong it must be to keep going. All around, parents were fighting for their children’s survival. Another mother carried her baby, who was starving, 90km to get food and treatment. Our Somali doctors reached her in time, but had to leave her outside on a blanket because our hospital wards were full. Tragically, the number children who don’t make it to school is increasing every month.
We all know hunger can be prevented and that early action can prevent the worst. But now we must face up to this deadly reality and urgently scale up treatment for children who are malnourished, put cash for essentials in people’s pocket and get clean water to those who need it. Recently, the US announced new investments to help more severely malnourished children get the treatment they need to survive. The UK should follow their lead.
Beyond that, we must ensure that no child is left hungry. Although the world was making great progress in combating malnutrition and conflict, Covid, climate change, and conflict have created a unique environment where hunger can thrive. This type of crisis must be relegated to history by governments and others.
Save the Childeren
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Source: sonna
