The Somali government and the Oromia region of Ethiopia are facing the worst drought in 40 years, according to the United States Agenc...
The Somali government and the Oromia region of Ethiopia are facing the worst drought in 40 years, according to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
It is also reported that the people of the region are losing their livestock due to lack of food and water and the drought is taking away the livelihoods of the community.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in a recent assessment that it had experienced the worst drought in four decades in southeastern Ethiopia and Somalia and that it was exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in those areas.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in December that the drought, which is expected to hit Somalia and Oromia for the third time, is affecting pastoralists and farmers' communities.
According to the Somali Regional State Disaster Risk Management Bureau, there is a significant shortage of produce in the Fafan and City zones of the Somali Regional State.
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Of these, up to 70 percent are sorghum and maize production, 30 percent is expected from wheat production, and 30 percent is expected from onion and tomato production. Similarly, South Oromia lost 70 percent of its production.
In southern Oromia and Somali regions, at least 267,000 cattle have died due to lack of fodder and water, and hundreds of thousands are at risk. The cattle also need urgent feed, water and vaccinations.
The exact number of people displaced is still unknown, he said, adding that many pastoralists and pastoralists have fled to Korahei, Jarar, Erer and Nogob zones and nine woredas in Fafan zone in search of pasture and water.
Currently, 2.3 million people in Somalia and more than 870,000 in southern Oromia are at risk of water shortages, according to Ocha.
Due to the drought, 99,000 students in Somalia and 56,000 students in southern Oromia are out of school due to the lack of school feeding programs.
In some parts of the Oromia region, malnutrition has doubled due to the drought, with cases of diarrhea among children under the age of five being reported, according to the International Rescue Committee.
Ocha said more than 6.4 million people in all drought-affected areas are in need of food aid.
Of these, 3 million are in the Somali region, 2.4 million in eastern Oromia and 1 million in southern Oromia.
He said more humanitarian assistance was needed, including access to water, food and non-food items, nutrition for infants and pregnant and lactating women, deployment of mobile health and nutrition clinics, and the deployment of veterinarians and veterinarians.
He also said that the current situation could worsen if there is no immediate response.
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