The drought affecting the Horn of Africa and East Africa is the worst of its kind in 60 years. It is estimated that up to 12 million people are affected by the drought, close to 2 million are children under 5 years old. As a result of rising food prices, devastated farmlands and failed harvests over 17 million people face food insecurity.
The worst affected countries are:
Somalia - nearly 3 million people are affected and malnutrition rates are amongst the worst in the world. The UN has declared a famine in six zones of Somalia
Ethiopia - over 3 million people are receiving food assistance and the risk from illness like malaria, meningitis and measles is very high.
Kenya - the rise of the cost of basic food, increase the likelihood of Global acute Malnutrition and food security in drought affected areas has collapsed.
Djibouti - the fourth consecutive year of drought and the lack of significant rainfall has resulted in water deficits and limited food and livestock pasture.
During Ramadan, Islamic Help and its partners, Somali Relief Development Forum (SRDF) distributed food to those most in need in Dobley, Somalia. A convoy of supplies left Tanzania and made its way to Somalia and after a mapping exercise and identifying those in most need the following aid was provided:
- 20 MT of flour
- 20 MT of maize
- 5 MT of sugar
- 5 MT of dates
- 3 MT of clothes
- 2 MT of Plumpy’nut (Nutritional substance aimed at helping malnourished children)
In addition a further 70 MT of food, including cooking oil, was obtained locally in South Central Somalia; in total a 140 MT of food aid and non-food items was taken into Dobley.
An estimated 10,000 people benefitted from the distribution of aid and were provided with sufficient food for a month. Each family received:
- 25kg of rice
- 25Kg of flour
- 25Kg maize flour
- 12Kg sugar
- 6lts of cooking oil
- 12Kg of dates
In addition we supplied a UNICEF Feeding Centre in Leboi, North Kenya with 2 MT of Plumpy’nut for use with severely malnourished children.
During our time in Dobley we not only distributed much needed aid but were also able to build relations with and support local NGOs, community elders and community leaders.
The crisis in the region continues to worsen and the UN has warned that as many as 750,000 people may lose their lives in the coming months. Refugees and displaced people are continuing to make their way to the many severely overcrowded camps – the levels of acute malnutrition amongst children and the elderly are particularly high. Donate generously to avert a tragedy of catastrophic proportions.
