The Horn of Africa is confronted with the most serious food insecurity situation in the world today. Across the region, 18 million people require emergency assistance.
According to recent UN news, 750,000 people face imminent starvation in the next 4 months. In places, malnutrition rates are more than three times the emergency threshold, and tens of thousands are thought to have already died. Southern Somalia is the area of most concern. The first famine of the 21st Century was declared there in two regions in late July. Many of those who are still strong enough have fled – to Mogadishu.
The situation in Ethiopia and Kenya is also deeply worrying. More people are affected by the crisis in Ethiopia than any other country in the region. According to government figures, 4.56 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. Ethiopia hosts 240,000 refugees – over 75,000 from Somalia arriving this year. In Kenya, the worst affected areas are in the northern and eastern arid and semi arid lands – over 500,000 children and pregnant and breastfeeding women are suffering from acute malnutrition. Across the region, the crisis is made even worse by conflict and insecurity.
That is why Dukale Services, as part of its social commitment, has decided at the end of August 2011, to support the region financially. This donation has been made to 12-12, the Belgian Consortium for Emergency Situations, which covers five organizations for humanitarian assistance. These organizations are highly involved in the local relief programs in the Horn of Africa.