It is estimated that approximately two million children in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia require urgent treatment for severe acute malnutrition, the deadliest form of hunger. Photo: iStock.
The number of children suffering from terrible drought conditions in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia it has more than doubled in five months, according to a UNICEF press release published in December 2022.
Some 20.2 million children were threatened by severe hunger, thirst and disease in December, compared to 10 million in July. This increase is due to climate change, conflicts, world inflation and cereal shortages.
Also read: Drought in East Africa: ‘Climate change is compounding the impact of La Niña’
Climate-related health emergencies are on the rise in Africa and the deadly cholera outbreak in drought-stricken Kenya is just the latest example.
In it horn of africa, nearly 70 percent of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region comprises arid and semi-arid lands prone to recurrent droughts. The East African region stretches from Eritrea in the north, through Ethiopia and Djibouti to the southern reaches of Kenya and Somalia.
The region lives its worst moment drought in more than 40 years. In the last 10 years, the Horn of Africa has endured three severe droughts (2010-2011, 2016-2017 and 2020-2021).
At least 36.1 million people in the region have been affected by one of the most severe and prolonged droughts in recent history, which is expected to continue well into 2023.
Also read: Weather-related health emergencies, disease outbreaks on the rise in Horn of Africa: WHO
This includes 24.1 million people in Ethiopia, 7.8 million in Somalia, and 4.35 million in Kenya. many are in risk of starvation and millions face severe levels of hunger.
Lieke van de Wiel, UNICEF Deputy Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, said:
While accelerated, collective efforts have mitigated some of the worst impacts than feared, the children of the Horn of Africa still face the most severe drought in more than two generations.
It is estimated that approximately two million children in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia require urgent treatment for severe acute malnutrition, the deadliest form of hunger.
Some 2.7 million children are out of school due to the drought and another four million are at risk of dropping out, according to UNICEF.
More than two million people are internally displaced due to the drought. Water insecurity has more than doubled, with some 24 million people facing dire water scarcity.
Also read: Nearly 10 million children in Horn of Africa in ‘greater danger’ from drought, says UNICEF
As families are pushed to the limits of coping with increasing stress, children face various risks, including child labor, child marriage, and female genital mutilation.
Gender-based violence, including sexual violence, exploitation and abuse, is also increasing due to widespread food insecurity and displacement.
“We urge the international community to commit to responding now to what could hit the Horn of Africa next year and for years to come,” van de Wiel appealed.
UNICEF’s 2023 flash appeal of $759 million to support children and their families will require timely and flexible funding, especially for education, water and sanitation and child protection, all which were severely underfunded this year.
An additional $690 million is required to support long-term investments for children and their families to recover and adapt to climate change.
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