7 February 2006 - Populations in East Africa face a serious risk of hunger and malnutrition unless much needed rain falls and produces an adequate harvest, warns Action Against Hunger International, which has programmes in southeast Ethiopia (Somali region), northeast Kenya, and southern Somalia.

Survival is difficult for vulnerable and often isolated populations.

Most families in these areas are nomadic and depend on their cattle for food and livelihoods. A hostile environment, lack of infrastructure, insecurity due to armed ethnic struggles and the population’s dependency on two rainy seasons (Gu from April to June, and Derg from October to December) have led to a precarious situation.

Lack of water causes increasing concern.

Water is essential for both humans and animals, and crucial for agriculture and pastures. However, the area has suffered from two consecutive deficient rainy seasons (three in northern Kenya). During dry seasons, herders normally migrate in search of water and pasture, but this time they are compelled to search much further a field. Subsequent long walks through dry land jeopardise the health of both herders and animals.

The worst is expected for this region, which faces alarming vulnerabilities.

Recent irregular rain has deteriorated the humanitarian situation, affecting both humans and animals. Nomads who have lost half their livestock will need at least three to five years to replenish their livestock. Acute malnutrition among children has increased substantially during the past weeks and animals are perishing in increasing numbers.  Rainfall is not expected until April. If adequate amounts of rain fail to fall, the already precarious situation will become disastrous.

Action Against Hunger’s teams are developing emergency responses.

A necessary but complex intervention

Action Against Hunger’s relief programmes are designed according to each community’s needs and will continue over the coming months when people and their animals are on the move. In addition to the lack of infrastructure that makes access to the population difficult, programmes must take into account variables such as food availability in local markets, ethnic strains, and the limits of established survival mechanisms.

The situation is especially worrying in areas in northern Kenya and its borders due to lack of rain for three consecutive seasons.

In Mandera, acute malnutrition rates have increased since December at Action Against Hunger’s nutritional centres. Today, 2,000 children are receiving treatment. Action Against Hunger will:

- open new supplementary feeding centres;

- distribute water, rehabilitate wells, and improve sanitation for 54,000 beneficiaries.

Ethiopia’s Somali region suffers from a lack of water.

Action Against Hunger has been present in the area since 1996 and will expand emergency activities in the Korahaï district with:

 - water distribution for 5,000 families;

 - veterinary treatment of cattle of 150,000 animals owned by 6,000 families.

In southern Somalia’s Bakool region, last year’s drought has forced populations to reduce their herds of livestock and diversify into agriculture. Action Against Hunger has improved water access and supported agricultural diversification in the area since 2002. Following an assessment of needs, additional emergency programmes will be implemented.

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