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Food crisis looms in East Africa | Food crisis looms in East Africa |
(2 days later) | |
More than 14 million people in the Horn of Africa need food aid because of drought and rocketing food and fuel prices, the United Nations has warned. | More than 14 million people in the Horn of Africa need food aid because of drought and rocketing food and fuel prices, the United Nations has warned. |
The UN World Food Programme says it urgently needs $400m (£200m) to prevent starvation in the east African region. | The UN World Food Programme says it urgently needs $400m (£200m) to prevent starvation in the east African region. |
Ethiopia is worst hit, with 10 million people - some 12% of the population - in need of extra food supplies. | Ethiopia is worst hit, with 10 million people - some 12% of the population - in need of extra food supplies. |
Somalia, Eritrea and Djibouti are also affected, along with northern parts of Kenya and Uganda. | Somalia, Eritrea and Djibouti are also affected, along with northern parts of Kenya and Uganda. |
Dire consequences | Dire consequences |
Economic events outside Africa - which are driving up food and fuel prices - are exacerbating the crisis caused by a lack of water in the region. | Economic events outside Africa - which are driving up food and fuel prices - are exacerbating the crisis caused by a lack of water in the region. |
The UN - backed by the main international aid non-governmental organisations - has warned of dire consequences for millions of people living in what a BBC correspondent says is a vulnerable region. | The UN - backed by the main international aid non-governmental organisations - has warned of dire consequences for millions of people living in what a BBC correspondent says is a vulnerable region. |
HORN OF AFRICA HUNGER Ethiopia: 4.6m need emergency food support. Another 5.7m need extra food or cashSomalia: 2.6m facing acute food shortages - could rise to 3.5m by end of 2008Kenya: 1.2m need urgent food suppliesUganda: 707,000 in dire need of foodDjibouti: 80,000 facing acute food shortages | HORN OF AFRICA HUNGER Ethiopia: 4.6m need emergency food support. Another 5.7m need extra food or cashSomalia: 2.6m facing acute food shortages - could rise to 3.5m by end of 2008Kenya: 1.2m need urgent food suppliesUganda: 707,000 in dire need of foodDjibouti: 80,000 facing acute food shortages |
Ethiopia has nearly exhausted its food reserves, the government having used stocks already in the hope that food prices would fall, making it cheaper to replenish its stores. | Ethiopia has nearly exhausted its food reserves, the government having used stocks already in the hope that food prices would fall, making it cheaper to replenish its stores. |
Instead, costs have risen further. | Instead, costs have risen further. |
More expensive fuel means the costs of transporting and distributing food have soared, and the WPF says the local price of grain is nearly three times higher than it was a year ago. | More expensive fuel means the costs of transporting and distributing food have soared, and the WPF says the local price of grain is nearly three times higher than it was a year ago. |
In Somalia, 2.6m people were in need of food aid at the start of this year. | In Somalia, 2.6m people were in need of food aid at the start of this year. |
Mark Bowden, the UN's humanitarian co-ordinator for the region, projects that that figure will have risen sharply by the end of 2008. | |
"We're now estimating that by the end of the year 3.5m people will need assistance... which is a frightening figure to have to deal with," he said. | "We're now estimating that by the end of the year 3.5m people will need assistance... which is a frightening figure to have to deal with," he said. |
"People are reducing their food intake... we only have months before we go into a major crisis." | "People are reducing their food intake... we only have months before we go into a major crisis." |
The WFP fears that if rains due in September and October fail, the situation will get even worse. | The WFP fears that if rains due in September and October fail, the situation will get even worse. |
It says the current food shortages are worse than two years ago, when 11m people needed food aid. | It says the current food shortages are worse than two years ago, when 11m people needed food aid. |
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