Source: Irish Weather Online

Drought displaced refugees wait for food and cash handout from donations by local residents in Mogadishu, Somalia on July 6, 2011. Hundreds of families recently arrived in Mogadishu after they fled from southern provinces of Somalia due to famine and drought.

Irish aid agency GOAL has allocated an additional €250,000 from its emergency funds to support the organisation’s effort to assist some of the millions of people  in the Horn of Africa who are facing starvation as the result of a prolonged drought in the region.

A GOAL team, led by experienced nurse Ann Bourke, will depart Dublin for northern Kenya today, to help in the relief operation, targeting malnourished Somali refugees.  Goal already has members on the ground been tankering large amounts of water to some of the worst affected areas.

Millions of people in the Horn of Africa are facing the worst drought situation in the region for 60 years. Among the worst affected countries are Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Burundi.

The total number of people believed to be in need of urgent humanitarian assistance is 10 million, according to aid agencies.

With little rainfall during the past two years, crops have withered and livestock have died, creating severe food shortages. It is estimated that 500,000 cattle have perished in Ethiopia alone.

To support Goal’s efforts in the Horn of Africa click here.

Worst affected regions highlighted. Image Google Maps

Local volunteers participate in the cooking and distribution of food at a feeding center set up for drought displaced people in Mogadishu, Somalia, on July 6, 2011. Hundreds of families recently arrived in Mogadishu after they fled from southern provinces of Somalia due to famine and drought.

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