East Africa food shortages

East Africa is experiencing serious food shortages triggered by the failure of seasonal rains. Communities have lost their harvests resulting in at least 7 million people facing hunger in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Somaliland.

The effect of the failed rains in northern Kenya has decreased the amount of available pasture for livestock and water levels in lakes and dams are perilously low or non existent. Failed harvests have resulted in households facing food shortages which are further exacerbated by rising food prices in the country and the effects of post election violence.

In southern Ethiopia the lack of rain has resulted in widespread crop failure in the affected areas causing food shortages and malnutrition in some cases. The water shortages have provided perfect breeding conditions for the army worm, a caterpillar that has gone on to devour whole harvests of maize and sorghum - a staple in the region.

The situation in all areas will probably get worse in the next few months until the next rains are due in November.

ActionAid's response on the ground
We are working in Kenya and Ethiopia distributing food items, such as rice to the most, vulnerable people.

So far in Kenya we have reached 25,000 people with water trucks and aim to reach another 65,000 over the coming weeks.

In Ethiopia we have supplied seeds to those most affected by the army worm infestation.

Sofia Yusuf, a single mother of five, received potato seeds that she said would keep her and her children alive over the next few months.

"My grain reserve had already dwindled due to the failure of the 'Belg' rains.Later, early May, army worm broke out and consumed my only maize grain that I sow on my plot of half hectare. I believed this would feed my family the coming year. " she said.

Sofia is also feeling the pain of escalating food costs and her children are having to work to make ends meet:

"I used to sell fire wood and buy food for the family whenever there was shortage. This time, however, the price food items is very expensive. Three of my children are also working as daily labourers but what we all earn cannot buy enough food."

photo : ©Jehad Nga/ Corbis/ ActionAid