19/01/2012
13m Face 'Unnecessary' Battle In East Africa
A Labour MP has said the plight of 13 million East Africans facing major food crisis could have been avoided if Governments had of acted faster.
Responding to the publication of the ‘A Dangerous Delay’ report by Save the Children and Oxfam, Tony Cunningham, Labour's Shadow International Development Minister, said the report was a stark reminder of the "horrifying situation" in the Horn of Africa.
"The real tragedy, as this report highlights, is that many of these lives could have been saved if Governments, multilaterals and NGOs had acted swiftly when the first warning signs of famine were reported."
According to Oxfam, drought is worsening across the Horn of Africa after successive failed rains. The late 2010 rainy season failed completely in many parts of Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, and now the April-May rains have also performed well below average.
Parts of northeast Kenya have received just 10% of the usual level of rainfall.
Meanwhile, the price of staple foods has risen to unaffordable levels for many people, and weak animals and the collapse of livestock markets have reduced people's income and ability to buy essentials. Hundreds of thousands of animals – people's main assets – have reportedly died.
In Ethiopia, 4.8 million are affected by the crisis, while in Kenya, some 4.3 million are affected. A further 4 million are facing a worsening drought across Somalia.
Tony Cunningham added: “As climate change continues to affect Africa and other continents, we must be aware that famine will continue to be a risk well into the future, and ensure we have robust risk assessment and planning arrangements in place. Too often the developed world waits too long before acting, by which point food crises are deep rooted and lives are being lost.
“Labour will continue to work with NGOs and international organisations to press the case for action to meet food security needs. We call on the Government to learn lessons from this tragedy which should include conducting an urgent assessment of the potential food crisis developing in West Africa and what steps we can take now to minimise its impact."
(DW)
Responding to the publication of the ‘A Dangerous Delay’ report by Save the Children and Oxfam, Tony Cunningham, Labour's Shadow International Development Minister, said the report was a stark reminder of the "horrifying situation" in the Horn of Africa.
"The real tragedy, as this report highlights, is that many of these lives could have been saved if Governments, multilaterals and NGOs had acted swiftly when the first warning signs of famine were reported."
According to Oxfam, drought is worsening across the Horn of Africa after successive failed rains. The late 2010 rainy season failed completely in many parts of Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, and now the April-May rains have also performed well below average.
Parts of northeast Kenya have received just 10% of the usual level of rainfall.
Meanwhile, the price of staple foods has risen to unaffordable levels for many people, and weak animals and the collapse of livestock markets have reduced people's income and ability to buy essentials. Hundreds of thousands of animals – people's main assets – have reportedly died.
In Ethiopia, 4.8 million are affected by the crisis, while in Kenya, some 4.3 million are affected. A further 4 million are facing a worsening drought across Somalia.
Tony Cunningham added: “As climate change continues to affect Africa and other continents, we must be aware that famine will continue to be a risk well into the future, and ensure we have robust risk assessment and planning arrangements in place. Too often the developed world waits too long before acting, by which point food crises are deep rooted and lives are being lost.
“Labour will continue to work with NGOs and international organisations to press the case for action to meet food security needs. We call on the Government to learn lessons from this tragedy which should include conducting an urgent assessment of the potential food crisis developing in West Africa and what steps we can take now to minimise its impact."
(DW)
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