Famine in the Horn of Africa: we need to act now
Last month, I led a debate in the House of Lords (See: Horn of Africa: Famine — Hansard — UK Parliament ) about the famine affecting Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Djibouti — four countries known collectively as the Horn of Africa and home to around 135m people.
The Horn of Africa is currently facing one of the longest and most severe droughts on record. In January this year, the UN resident coordinator in Somalia concluded that excess deaths in the country would ‘almost certainly’ surpass those of the famine declared in 2011.
Over 51 million people in the region are estimated to be facing severe food insecurity, and if we do not act, hundreds and thousands of people, particularly children, will die.
Tragically, we are not hearing much about this humanitarian crisis in our media, which has focussed almost exclusively on Ukraine and Turkey/Syria in recent weeks.
The present famine is exacerbated by a number of external factors. The four countries are facing a perfect storm.
The war in Ukraine has not only turned international eyes away from the situation in Africa, but also has international consequences. Prior to the war, Somalia exported 92% of its grain from Russia and Ukraine but this is now being blockaded by Russian ships. Indeed, the terrible and senseless war in Ukraine has had an impact on us as well, but it has left the Horn of Africa uniquely afflicted.
Then there is the impact of climate change, which is affecting the Horn of Africa and other places in the global south badly. In the long-term, the consequences of climate change are likely to result in more drought and suffering across the world.
The cost of living crisis has turned our attention away from our international obligations. Of course, we have to deal with problems at home, but in a situation where millions are suffering it is important to look outwardly.
The Horn of Africa is no stranger to famine. Being situated close to the equator, the region is characterised by harsh arid and semi-arid environments.
In 2011 the region suffered from a famine which led to the deaths of 260,000 people in Somalia, half of them children. By July 2011, 3.2 million people needed live-saving assistance and 920,000 people fled, as refugees, to neighbouring countries.
The severe consequences of the famine enabled radical Islamist groups, such as Al-Shabab to gain significant ground in the region. In response the US introduced sanctions as it wanted to prevent funds flowing to radical groups. At the same time the UK’s response to the famine lacked urgency and did little to prevent widescale suffering and loss of life.
In 2017 the region faced famine again. This time, there was a significant improvement in the international response. The UK committed £861 million to alleviating the famine, acting as global leaders to help reduce the death toll. As a country we demonstrated the immense strength of swift and decisive leadership.
But what of the famine facing the Horn of Africa now?
Currently, the Government has allocated less than a fifth of what we provided in 2017, only £157m. It is frustrating that we gave such a strong international lead just six years ago, only to hear that the Government is not willing to do the same this time.
At COP26, a great deal of focus was placed on ‘loss and damage’ compensation for developing countries. The principle of ‘polluter pays’ is one that I come across in many other areas of politics, but it is just as important when it comes to climate change. We need to adopt a long-term strategy of reducing climate change, and compensating the countries that are affected by our decisions.
My debate in the House of Lords was an attempt to raise awareness of the famine. The crisis in the Horn of Africa demands a swift and decisive response. I urge the Government and NGOs to act quickly.
+Alan St Albans
