Qatar: WHO: 129,000 people are at risk of starvation in the Horn of Africa

Today, the World Health Organization warned that about 129,000 people have reached the limit of food insecurity and are at risk of death in the Greater Horn of Africa, which has been experiencing terrible drought for several years. Lisbeth Albrecht, WHO regional official, said in a video conference in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. "When I speak of the Greater Horn of Africa, I refer to Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.". She added: "It is in these areas that we notice a resurgence of epidemics and the highest number of children suffering from malnutrition in years, affecting millions of people, in the context of the deterioration of prospects in terms of food insecurity.". According to the World Health Organization, about 48 million people face a sensitive level of food insecurity in the region, and among these people, six million are in an emergency state of food insecurity (IPC phase 4) and 129,000 are in disaster mode ( Stage 5), which is the maximum level. According to the Center for Climate Outlook and Applications of IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development), which is the grouping of East African countries, the current conditions are worse than they were before the 2011 drought, which led to famine that caused the death of thousands of people. Five consecutive seasons of no rain so far have killed millions of livestock, destroyed crops, and prompted millions of people to leave their areas in search of water and food elsewhere. The World Health Organization stated that this food insecurity was behind the increase in epidemics such as measles, dengue fever, cholera and malaria, noting that it needed $178 million to support the region’s population this year. Albrecht said: "Never in this century has the Horn of Africa seen so many epidemics"emphasizing the link between increasing epidemics and climate change". She added: "As climate change becomes a reality, these shocks will become recurrent, and what is needed is large-scale and sustained humanitarian assistance with long-term investments to enhance existing disease surveillance in order to stop them at the first signs." .