Horn of Africa: Millions of children are on the brink of death

Drought and the consequences of the conflict in Ukraine could increase the number of people affected by hunger in the Horn of Africa from 14 million to 20 million by the end of this year (2022), the United Nations (UN) spokesman said on Tuesday.

According to data from the World Food Program, Somalia is at risk of famine, about 500,000 Kenyans are on the verge of catastrophic levels of hunger, and malnutrition rates in Ethiopia are well above the emergency threshold.

The severely affected countries face increasing hunger if rainfall continues to decrease, food and fuel costs increase due to conflicts, and humanitarian budgets are low. According to the United Nations, the cost of a food basket in Ethiopia is 66% and in Somalia, it has increased by 36%.

In 2011, a severe drought affected 13 million people across the region, with Somalia the hardest hit. In July of the same year, famine was declared in Somalia and 260,000 people died, half of them children under the age of five.

United Nations reports indicate that 4 billion dollars are needed to help 20 million hungry people.

_{Source: UN, WFP, France24}