(3 minutes read)
- UNICEF estimates is that more than 6 million people in Ethiopia alone are expected to need urgent humanitarian aid by mid-March
- In neighbouring Somalia, more than 7 million people need urgent help
- Their only source of help is from international donors.
Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia are in the grip of a climate shock. Drought and incessant rains have grossly affected the fragile region, pushing the people into further impoverishment and destitution.
People in the region had experienced intense three straight rainy seasons coupled with draughts, making the situation unprecedented. There was not much help coming from the government sources because of the stressed resources for reasons ranging from Covid-19, internal strife and a lot more challenges. UNICEF estimates that more than 6 million people in Ethiopia alone are expected to need urgent humanitarian aid by mid-March. In neighbouring Somalia, more than 7 million people need urgent help. Their only source of help is from international donors.
According to the consortium of NGOs operating in the region, this could be the region’s worst drought in 40 years. The other challenge is children dropping out from the school. In Ethiopia alone, more than 150,000 children have dropped out of school to help fetch scarce water and handle other chores, according to UNICEF’s estimates.
Severe drought also is drying up water sources in the region, needing urgent works to replenish water availability by rehabilitating the wells and by drilling more borewells, which entail cost. The health and nutrition systems are also under great strain. The Ethiopian government’s conflict with fighters from the country’s northern Tigray region also necessitated urgent responses from the AID agencies to extend humanitarian works.
