Poor rains worsen east Africa famine

A lack of rainfall has contributed to the ongoing food crisis in East Africa, Oxfam said on Thursday.

It was hoped that rains expected in November would provide relief for those struck by famine in this region.

However, areas including Ogaden in Ethiopia and Turkana in Kenya received below five per cent of normal rainfall in November. Meanwhile, Somalia is experiencing its most severe drought of the last 20 years.

Consequently, starvation is becoming more common in the region.

Statistics show that one in three people are now malnourished in Turkana, while a clinic in Tanzania has revealed that cases of malnourishment dealt with by the practice have increased by 400 per cent.

…In Uganda, the prices of foodstuffs constituting a staple diet have doubled and food stocks are expected to run out in January

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