Drought, Hunger and Destitution Are Driving East Africa to the Verge of Collapse
Severe drought threatens 23 million east Africans in seven countries
More than 23 million people in 7 countries in East Africa including the worst affected nations of Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda, face starvation amid a 2-year drought.
“The Ethiopian government puts the number in need at 5.3 million. Pastoralist communities in the country’s southern Borena area have been particularly hard hit by the lack of rain.” Reuters reported.
“Some 6.2 million Ethiopians hit by two-year recurrent drought are facing starvation and need emergency assistance,” a charity organization spokeswoman told Reuters.
India
Floods triggered by more than a week of heavy rains have left 2.5 million Indians homeless.The flooding, described as the worst in living memory, has killed more than 250 people in south India, in the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, and
More than five million people have taken shelter at temporary government relief centers.
Millions of hectares of cropland, including sugarcane plantations have been flooded by torrential rains, prompting worries about a fall in sugar output in Karnataka, one of the country’s top three producers.
Philippines
An estimated one million people have been severely affected after Tropical Storm Ketsana (locally known as Ondoy) triggered epic flooding in the Philippines.
The storm brought in sever rains and caused the worst flooding in living memory, leaving 80 to 90 percent of Manila completely submerged in floodwater. The official death toll stands at about 300, with another 50 or so missing. The worst problems in the affected areas are
- Access to Food and medicine
- Disruptions in the supply of power and telecommunications
- Shortages of drinking water
- Sanitation concerns and threat of supply shortages
Cambodia
Meanwhile, 60,000 people have been affected as a result of flooding and landslides caused by storm Ketsana, with about 20 deaths including a pregnant woman and up to 100 injuries including 20 serious cases and up to 50,000 hectares of crops and rice fields destroyed by flood waters.
According to a report by an aid organization, some 1,519 houses, 55 public buildings, 160 irrigation systems, channels, dams, embankments, 40 km of roads and 3 bridges were damaged, or destroyed, causing major disruptions throughout the flooded areas.
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