Famine looms in the Horn of Africa after four seasons of poor rains

Millions of drought-stricken people in Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia face famine after four seasons of low rainfall, according to humanitarian groups and meteorologists, who warn that the October-November monsoon “may possibly fail.”

The exceptional drought is “a climatic phenomenon not witnessed in at least 40 years,” according to a statement issued by meteorological specialists and humanitarian organizations, including United Nations agencies.

“The March-May rainy season in 2022 seems likely to be the driest on record,” the report added.

Inadequate rainfall has devastated crops, killed cattle, and prompted tens of thousands of people to flee their homes in search of food and water, with a sixth failed monsoon threatening to further devastate the struggling area.

“If these projections come true, the region’s already terrible humanitarian crisis would worsen,” the agencies stated.

The drought has already killed 3.6 million animals in Kenya and Ethiopia, where indigenous inhabitants depend primarily on pastoralism for a livelihood. Meanwhile, since mid-2021, one out of every three animals in Somalia has perished.

More than 16.7 million people in the three nations are suffering from severe hunger, with a further 20 million expected by September.

The severe situation has been aggravated by the turmoil in Ukraine, which has led to rising food and gasoline prices, according to the statement.

Without resources to scale up assistance response, an already severe situation would worsen, according to the report.

“Immediate action is required to rescue lives and prevent famine and death.” Current drought-response appeals are severely underfunded, it noted.

A previous appeal by the UN World Food Programme in February received less than 4% of the required funds.

East Africa had a devastating drought in 2017, yet early humanitarian intervention saved Somalia from starvation.

In contrast, when famine swept the nation in 2011, 260,000 people died of starvation or food-related diseases, half of them were children under the age of six.

According to experts, severe weather events are becoming more frequent and intense as a result of climate change.