Hunger is spreading in the Horn of Africa

NEW YORK – hunger in the Horn of Africa is still expanding and will soon spread to a further six regions in Somalia, said Valerie Amos, head of humanitarian operations the United Nations.

She said that the assistance is urgently needed by 12.4 million people in Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia and Djibouti, and explained that the situation is constantly deteriorating.

UN declared a state of hunger in the two regions in southern Somalia, where 3.7 million people affected. Residents of Somalia are coming to the north of Kenya, mainly to take refuge from violence in recent months and to find food.

“Today we issue a warning that hunger will extend for another five or six regions, if the humanitarian response does not become significantly more massive,” said Amos.

She pointed out that tens of thousands of Somalis have died and that hundreds of thousands are hungry, which may have consequences for the entire region. Amos said it is urgent to collect 1.4 billion dollars to save lives.

She recalled that the African soil was hit by the biggest drought in 60 years, given the amount of rainfall, number of affected people and countries, and the number of dead cattle.