10/2/2006
UNICEF Seeks Aid as Millions Suffer in Drought-Hit Horn of Africa

One and a half million children are among eight million people facing the ravages of drought in the Horn of Africa, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned this week. The agency has appealed for assistance to expand its relief efforts in the region.

For the past two years the rains have largely failed in parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia creating an extensive drought. Now UNICEF is calling for $16 million to help fund its response. But executive director Ann M. Veneman emphasised that this was emergency assistance; more will be needed to help avoid a greater crisis in the months to come.

“There is a potential for widespread disease, greater malnutrition and the displacement of significant numbers of people,” she said. “The international community must respond
immediately to the need for assistance.”

Crop failure and death of livestock significantly contribute to increased malnutrition among children, while measles also poses a threat to children’s survival as immunisation rates in the affected areas are low, say the UN. Children weakened by malnutrition also face a much higher risk of infection.  Measles can spread lethally and quickly among unprotected populations.

Working with governments, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and partners from non-governmental organisations (NGOs), UNICEF is already supporting feeding programmes in the region. But the agency said its plans to expand these efforts in the next few months will require extra funding.

“These additional resources will allow the agency to move quickly in getting water and other services into the affected areas, including measles immunisation campaigns for children and families,” the agency said.

The agency also pointed out that the drought is having a long-term impact on education because children are spending so much time searching for food and water that they have no time to attend school. As such, UNICEF concluded that there is no time to lose in getting assistance to those in
need.

“The severe drought may not be receiving the same amount of attention as other emergencies. We must act now to save lives,” said Ms. Veneman.