TOwe too see, and how much, the repercussions on the shopping cart of the conflict in Ukraine. But we cannot imagine the extent of the consequences of the war on the basket of populations, such as those of the Horn of Africa, who were already one step away from famine before February 24, 2022.
Populations burdened by the health and economic consequences of the pandemic and by the effects of climate change. To imagine, the CesviNGO operating in the area and launching an alarm.
Horn of Africa between pandemics, climate and conflicts
Food insecurity has reached dramatic levels across the Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia): 20 million people are facing high levels of food insecurity that are set to worsen between now and September.
The area is experimenting one of the worst droughts in decades: four consecutive seasons of missed rains, and may not even occur in October-December. With the harvests decimated, there was a sharp death in livestock, the main source of livelihood for families. As a consequence, conflicts between villages have also intensified.
The 940,000 malnourished children in Kenya
In Kenya there are an estimated 4.1 million people in conditions of serious food insecurity: 27% of the population suffers from hunger and thirst and over 1.5 million head of cattle have died. Over 940 thousand children suffer from acute malnutrition (229 thousand severe and 713 thousand moderate).
If the mother does not understand that her baby is undernourished
The phenomenon is so widespread that mothers often consider the state of malnutrition and the slowed and abnormal growth of their children to be normal. Lack of food and water often affects babies even before birth and in the first months of life: 134,000 pregnant or lactating women are severely malnourished.
The contribution of the war in Ukraine to the crisis in the Horn of Africa
The war in Ukraine makes its ferocious contribution to an already dramatic situation: skyrocketing wheat prices (third most consumed and imported food product for 86% of total consumption)corn, useful for animal feed (100% imported), edible oils and fuel.
The cost of the food basket has already increased by 66% in Ethiopia and by 36% in Somalia.
In Ethiopia 4.4 million people live in situations of food insecurity and 4.7 children under the age of 5 are at risk of severe malnutrition.
The situation in Somalia is also very critical, where conditions are such as to cause fear of a future one real famine: 7.1 million people are in conditions of severe food insecurity and over 805 thousand have been displaced since October 2021 due to drought.
Local agriculture, a possible solution
The photo of Nawoi, a small livestock and poultry farmer in the village of Nasuroi, Kenya: «Everything around me reminds me of famine and hunger. It is their fault that I no longer have a husband or children. I dream of the moment when I will have even just one certain meal a day ». photo Roger Lo Guarro / CESVI
“The only possible solution” explains Valeria Emmi, Advocacy and Networking Senior Specialist at CESVI, “is the return to local agriculture, conducted with indigenous methods that are better adapted to climate change “. But, of course, such a serious situation cannot be remedied in a short time.
For example, in Ethiopia, Cesvi supports the population in the production of climate-resistant forage, builds wells (in the village of Nasuroi) and provides tools and models for the management of natural resources. In particular, it supports small livestock and poultry farmers so that they can have eggs and meat to feed themselves.
iO Donna © REPRODUCTION RESERVED