2011-07-20, 08:34 PM
However, this drought and subsequent famine is also encompassing more than just Somalia. It is encompassing the entire Horn of Africa, which comprises of Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti as well. Ethiopia is also at serious risk of having their most massive cholera outbreak from this drought, but that's another news story I read about a few days ago.
"On July 20, the United Nations officially declared a famine in response to new data from UN's food security and nutrition analysis unit, which showed that the situation in southern Somalia now meets all three characteristics of widespread famine: 1) more than 30 percent of children suffering from acute malnutrition; 2) more than two adults or four children dying of hunger each day for every group of 10,000 people; and 3) the population having access to less than 2,100 kilocalories of food and four liters of water per day.
Under international law, there is no mandated response which must follow from an official declaration of famine. However, it is hoped that the use of the term will serve as a "wake-up call" to governments, including some in Europe and almost all in Africa, who have so far failed to respond.On the same date, the President of Somalia also declared a famine in the country, and called for urgently needed donations from foreign governments and individuals."
"On July 20, the United Nations officially declared a famine in response to new data from UN's food security and nutrition analysis unit, which showed that the situation in southern Somalia now meets all three characteristics of widespread famine: 1) more than 30 percent of children suffering from acute malnutrition; 2) more than two adults or four children dying of hunger each day for every group of 10,000 people; and 3) the population having access to less than 2,100 kilocalories of food and four liters of water per day.
Under international law, there is no mandated response which must follow from an official declaration of famine. However, it is hoped that the use of the term will serve as a "wake-up call" to governments, including some in Europe and almost all in Africa, who have so far failed to respond.On the same date, the President of Somalia also declared a famine in the country, and called for urgently needed donations from foreign governments and individuals."