Highlights
– Red Cross reports famine in Horn of Africa, threatens 20 million people
– Risk of famine is due to severe drought, high fuel and food prices
– Critical conditions have led to mass unrest and protests against various governments; conditions likely to worsen in the near to mid-term
Topping the United Nation’s (UN) figure by three million, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said that over 20 million people in the Horn of Africa were at risk of famine due to drought, high fuel and high food prices. The Federation stated in a report on December 11, 2008, that the UN’s figure of 17 million people in urgent need of food was too low, as it failed to take into account the hungry in Eritrea and Djibouti. Based on the results of a two-month study into the crisis, senior Federation official Roger Bracke believes the figure is closer to 20 million people “and that still excludes Sudan.”
High fuel prices have seriously hampered production and has also meant farmers have to pay more for fertilizers and pesticides, in addition to increased transportation costs. As a result of added hardships, civil servants have experienced unrest, which has developed into anger and frustration against their governments’ lack of adequate response to their needs. Moreover, suffering governments like Somalia’s deteriorating Transitional Federal Government (TFG) will be unable to help its war-torn nation cope with the threat of famine, as it continues to struggle with other crises such as piracy, terrorism, and radical insurgent violence.
With the constant state of political hardships and longtime boarder disputes between neighbors like Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia, it is unlikely that the nations of the Horn will be able to collaborate effectively and cooperate on a mutually beneficial aid agreement in the near to mid-term.
Sources of Famine Widespread
The commodity price index has risen dramatically this past year and left many countries, especially in Africa, in far worse conditions than ever before (Previous Report). Grain prices doubled in the Horn of Africa during the past year, forcing countries to withdraw strategic reserves of grain. Relief agencies report that the Horn is “showing signs of acute food insecurity,” which include selling family assets like livestock in addition to migration. A growing number of inhabitants are also suffering from severe malnutrition.
In countries like Somalia, where the world’s attention is focused on the problem of piracy off its coast, the nation is in danger of descending into famine (Previous Report). According to the Foundation, almost half of Somalia’ population is dependant on food aid. Drought, floods and nearly two decades of conflict have driven many into destitution. Additionally, the fighting between insurgents, government forces, and Ethiopian troops has made it extremely difficult for aid agencies to work on the ground. Moreover, the lack of aid from government and humanitarian sources has contributed to the piracy epidemic and insurgent fighting, as many Somalis have chosen to pursue criminal behavior to earn a living.
In Ethiopia and Kenya, nationals have protested and demonstrated – sometimes violently – against their respective governments’ inability to effectively deal with the situation and the perpetual downward spiral the countries have been in since the initial spike in oil and food staple prices. Turning to violence has been a common reaction among those starving and struggling in the region. It is not likely that the situation in the Horn will become any less severe in the coming months, as the Foundation reports the figures are growing at increasing rates and will likely continue in the near to mid-term.
Little Relief From Threatening Famine
Though the masses have taken it upon themselves to protest and voice their concerns for deteriorating living conditions, there is little governments in the Horn can do to relieve the populace. Commodities prices have soared across the globe and have negatively affected millions of people.
As the global economy begins to adjust, prices of staple goods in the Horn will also begin to normalize. However, the worsening conditions of internal political, economic, and social conflicts will make it difficult to implement lasting changes in the Horn. Until internal conflicts subside, countries in the Horn will continue to suffer from the threat of famine in the near to mid-term.
