Millions at risk of famine in East Africa

DROUGHT has triggered extreme food shortages in three East African countries, putting millions of people at risk of famine as the lean dry season approaches, a humanitarian group said.

Pre-famine conditions have already emerged in eastern Ethiopia, including escalating malnutrition, reports of child deaths, early human and livestock migration and rising sorghum prices, according to the US-funded Famine Early Warning Systems Network.

A preliminary assessment showed that more than a million Ethiopian cattle herders will face serious water, pasture and food shortages in the first half of 2006. The crisis will peak from January to March, the group said.

Drought has also led to food shortages in neighbouring Kenya, where an estimated 1.2 million people are expected to be affected over the next two months, said Special Programmes Minister of State John Munyes.

The government said it will take immediate emergency measures to deliver food to those at risk.

That's in addition to the 1.3 million Kenyans who receive food aid annually from the government because they live in semiarid or arid areas and never harvest enough food or don't have sizeable herds of animals to sell.

In Somalia, about 2 million people need humanitarian aid, including food and water, medical supplies and security assistance. The drought has led to increases in admissions of severely malnourished children to feeding centres in the south.

About 70,000 tons of food aid are needed through June to feed those hit by drought in Somalia, but only 18,000 tons are available, the UN food aid agency said. Eastern Ethiopia, one of the driest and least hospitable parts of the country, was hit by a catastrophic famine in 2000 that killed an estimated 50,000 people. Most residents eke out a living as nomads.

An initial estimate from the regional Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Administration indicates Ethiopia needs more than $40m to provide emergency water, food and health care to people and animals affected by the drought.

Western diplomats said on Thursday that international donors will withdraw $375 million in direct budget assistance from Ethiopia's government following its recent crackdown on the main opposition party and the independent press.

The money will be reallocated to the UN and aid agencies working to combat poverty among the bulk of Ethiopia's 77 million people, the diplomats said.