WFP: 13M starving in East Africa amid drought

Drought conditions have left an estimated 13 million people facing severe hunger in the Horn of Africa, according to the United Nations World Food Programme. 

People in a region including Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya are facing the driest conditions recorded since 1981. Malnutrition rates are high in these region and calling for immediate assistance to forestall a major humanitarian crisis.

Shaun Hughes, Senior regional emergencies Advisor, World Food Programme said  “We are already seeing these consecutive drought episodes really biting for communities and that's why WFP urgently requires 327 million dollars in order to reach four and a half million of the worst affected people in those areas with relief food assistance and with treatment and prevention of acute malnutrition which is already very much on the rise in the region."