EAST AFRICA FACES FAMINE
Sep 23rd, 2009 by admin
The hunger crisis affecting millions of people across East Africa is set to intensify due to conflict, displacement and erratic rain, aid agencies warn. Ongoing drought already means up to 20 million people in Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia and Djibouti will need food assistance until at least December, Save The Children said yesterday. The United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization said this number may increase, especially among marginal farmers, pastoralists and low-income people in urban areas. The El Niño weather pattern, which usually brings heavy rain towards the end of the year, means flooding could destroy harvests, livestock, homes and infrastructure, the agency warned. The World Food Programme declared last week the financial crisis and record food prices had left a three billion US dollar hole in its 2009 budget.
