The Horn of Africa- Starvation and Poverty

The Horn of Africa
The tragedy of the decade?

In 1984, 1 million people died. When a big famine struck Somalia in Africa (1984), people starved in masses. Help from richer countries only arrived after greatly publicizing the (then) current situation through NGOs and television. The UN, who has set the goal to eradicate poverty worldwide, provided aid in form of nutrition and procurement methods through the UN World Food Program (WFP). Sadly, the Horn of Africa still remains today under extreme poverty as a hunger zone. The WFP mentioned that the current drought is the worst so far, and 17.5 million people are likely to face starvation. High food prices, several attacks on workers by jihadists and assassinations combine with the drought and tense up the situation. Helpers and aid workers have improved the situation and starving, but the doctors operating in the national clinics even report children dying of side effect of malnutrition such as diarrhea. Lastly, even the worlds financial crisis is creating turmoil in Africa due to missing funds, and if nothing is done soon the situation will collapse entirely.
Oct 30th 2008 NAIROBI
From The Economist print edition
Millions of people in dire need of help

http://www.economist.com/world/mideast-africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12517047>