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The group said the Somali fighting has made matters worse. |
NAIROBI — Plagued by spreading Rift Valley Fever, deadly droughts and political instability, the Horn of Africa is teetering on the verge of a serious humanitarian crisis as many locals are threatened with a deadly famine, an aid group warned Monday, January 15.
These factors "have already dampened prospects of recovery in the most food insecure areas of these countries and may spread beyond the current impact area," USAID-funded Famine Early Warning System (FEWS NET) said in a statement carried by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
"Pastoral areas of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia are still recovering, and, despite favorable agro-climatic conditions, many people will require humanitarian assistance for at least the next six months," the statement added.
In November, the United Nations said around two million people in the three countries were in need in humanitarian supplies after their means of livelihood was affected by a prolonged drought that was followed by devastating floods.
Kenyan authorities have restricted human and livestock movement in the northern region as they struggle to contain the RFV outbreak that has killed at least 88 people in the past month.
"RVF represents a serious risk to regional export markets, livestock sales and consumption," FEWS NET warned.
Worse
The FEWS NET said the fighting in Somalia, where Ethiobian-backed government troops routed Islamic Courts fighters, has made matters worse with Nairobi shutting its borders with Somalia to prevent fleeing Courts fighters.
Aid groups have said shutting the frontier, effectively blocking cross-border trade and thousands of refugees, have pushed humanitarian conditions to the edge.
"While slowing the spread of the disease, these measures have negatively affected populations fleeing the conflict in Somalia and hamper movement of humanitarian relief supplies," the FEWS NET statement added.
"Despite control measures, conflict in Somalia has forced population and livestock movements, and, if the disease were to spread, the civil insecurity would constrain large-scale livestock vaccination programs," the statement said.
The on-off fighting in Somalia has doubled the number of displaced people from 400,000 to nearly one million, most of whom cannot access supplies.
"Even if the security situation in Somalia improves, these restrictions are likely to remain problematic until the RVF outbreak is brought under control," FEWS NET warned.
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