RMC Africa.com

Sara Rios 20 m is the figure that it claims in 2011 Unicef to Western and local governments. The Horn of Africa (Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti) suffers from the worst food crisis in the world: malnutrition, drought and rising food prices. 40% Of the nomadic population, the most affected, lives on less than 1 dollar a day. The refugee camps in Kenya are overwhelmed by the exodus of thousands of Somalis who crossed the border fleeing from armed conflict. The Horn of Africa (region located to the East of the continent and which mainly includes the countries of Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti) suffers the worst food crisis in the world today.

To famine and drought (the worst in 60 years, according to the UN) join other factors such as the increase in the prices of food, armed conflicts and the high number of refugees fleeing because of the wars, seeking a better life in their neighbouring countries. According to Unicef, children living in these territories are the more vulnerable to this crisis, which affects some 18 million people, of which half need urgent humanitarian assistance (around 2 million are children under five years). This extreme situation is avoidable, says Unicef, if donor and local governments are leading a rapid humanitarian response. According to this organization, cuts funds and, in some areas, the denial of access, threaten to disrupt these essential services provided to the population (vital vaccination campaigns, health care, programs to ensure clean water and improve sanitation). The United Nations Children’s programme calculates that this year a total of EUR 105 million will be needed to prevent the threat which weighs particularly on millions of children and women from worsening to the point of death or disease. In the year 2010, the needs of financing according to this agency in that area were still, of 130 million euros.