While many express platitudes about the coming festive season, others have little to have good cheer about. The number of children suffering dire drought conditions across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia has more than doubled in five months, according to UNICEF.
Around 20.2 million children are now facing the threat of severe hunger, thirst and disease, compared to 10 million in July, as climate change, conflict, global inflation and grain shortages devastate the region.
Nearly two million children across Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia are currently estimated to require urgent treatment for severe acute malnutrition, the deadliest form of hunger.
In addition, across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia:
- More than two million people are displaced internally because of drought.
- Water insecurity has more than doubled with close to 24 million people now confronting dire water shortages.
- Approximately 2.7 million children are out of school because of the drought, with an additional estimated 4 million children at risk of dropping out.
- As families are driven to the edge dealing with increased stress, children face a range of protection risks – including child labour, child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM).
- Gender-based violence (GBV), including sexual violence, exploitation and abuse, is also increasing due to widespread food insecurity and displacement.
UNICEF Deputy Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa Lieke van de Wiel explained “We need a global effort to mobilize resources urgently to reduce further devastating and irreversible damage to children in the Horn of Africa. We must act now to save children’s lives, preserve their dignity and protect their futures.”
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