Drought puts 11 million at risk of starvation

UP TO 11 million people across East Africa face starvation after the worst drought in 20 years hit the poverty stricken region, a British charity has warned.

The lack of rain across Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Djibouti over the past two years has seen wells and watering holes dry up completely, according to Christian Aid. Up to 80% of cattle herds have died in the drought, as aid agencies receive reports of people dying of thirst and others being driven to drinking their own urine to survive.

The charity’s emergencies specialist, Dominic Nutt, said from Kenya yesterday: “This is a crisis on the verge of becoming a catastrophe.