The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) on Tuesday called for swift and concerted efforts to prevent drought-induced humanitarian catastrophe in Ethiopia.
The WFP, in its latest situation update, said early action is needed to prevent a humanitarian disaster in Ethiopia.
“Livestocks are dying, crops are failing, and an estimated 5.7 million people wake up hungry every day in southern and south-eastern Ethiopia as the Horn of Africa grapples with the most severe drought since 1981,” the WFP said.
According to the WFP, in total, some 6.8 million people have been affected by the drought in Ethiopia.
“The shortages of water and pasture are devastating livelihoods, forcing families from their homes across the regions in southern and south-eastern Ethiopia,” the WFP said.
Three consecutive failed rainy seasons have decimated crops and caused “abnormally high” livestock deaths, it said.
It stressed immediate and scaled-up assistance is critical to avoid a major humanitarian crisis in the drought-affected areas of Ethiopia and help communities become more resilient to extreme climate shocks.
It emphasized 130 million U.S. dollars is urgently needed to provide assistance over the next four months, responding to the needs of 3.5 million of the most drought-affected people.
MG/abj/APA