Oxfam reveals $800 million black hole in aid response to Horn of Africa famine

Oxfam reveals $800 million black hole in aid response to Horn of Africa famine

2011-07-22 00:06:15 GMT+7 (ICT)

BRUSSELS (BNO NEWS) -- Several rich governments have failed to provide aid to prevent a catastrophe in the drought-stricken Horn of Africa, Oxfam International said in a statement on Thursday.

Oxfam said the aid effort to avert catastrophe in East Africa limps along due to an $800 million shortfall. The agency urged both international donors and regional governments to step up urgently their response since of the estimated $1 billion needed, only around $200 million in new money has so far been provided.

"There is no time to waste if we are to avoid massive loss of life. We must not stand by and watch this tragedy unfold before our eyes. The world has been slow to recognise the severity of this crisis, but there is no longer any excuse for inaction," said Fran Equiza, Oxfam's Regional Director.

Oxfam praised the United Kingdom for having "led the way in pledging new aid", but singled out Italy, Denmark and France for not providing anything new. It added that Germany and Spain have made initial contributions, but these are small.

"A crisis of this magnitude must not be allowed to happen again. It is in no way inevitable and solutions do exist. The worst affected areas have endured decades of marginalization and economic under-development. If more action had been taken earlier we would not now be at the stage where so many people are facing starvation," said Equiza.

The United Nations (UN) on Wednesday declared a famine in two regions of southern Somalia, namely due to the worst drought in decades.

Famine is declared when acute malnutrition rates among children exceed 30 percent, more than two people per every 10,000 die per day, and people are not able to access food and other basic necessities, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Currently, malnutrition rates in Somalia are the highest in the world, peaking up to 50 percent in certain areas of the country's south.

In the last few months, tens of thousands of Somalis have died as a result of causes related to malnutrition, the majority of them children. Famine was declared in the two regions of southern Bakool and Lower Shabelle in southern Somalia, where not only do malnutrition rates surpass the 30 percent marker, but deaths among children under the age of five exceed six per day in every 10,000 Somalis.

UN agencies have asked for $1.6 billion to pay for essential programs in the Horn of Africa, but have only received half that amount. Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia and Djibouti are all facing a crisis that is being called the worst in 50 years, leaving an estimated 11 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.

According to the United Nations, the drought in the Eastern Horn of Africa is expected to continue until early 2012, and the number of people in acute livelihood crisis is expected to increase from 8.8 million in the coming months.

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