Publication Date April 8, 2016 | Cleveland.com

Horn of Africa Drought Requires Action, Including in Somaliland

Ethiopia
Ziway Dugda district communities wait for food distribution at Ogolcha food center in a drought-stricken area of Ethiopia during a Jan. 31, 2016, visit by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Photo: Mulugeta Ayene, Associated Press
Ziway Dugda district communities wait for food distribution at Ogolcha food center in a drought-stricken area of Ethiopia during a Jan. 31, 2016, visit by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Photo: Mulugeta Ayene, Associated Press

The Horn of Africa region has been hit by one of its worst droughts in decades, affecting 20 million people. According to the United Nations and aid organizations, close to 10 million Ethiopians could suffer from acute malnutrition or starvation unless help arrives. The drought was caused by the lack of rain from two consecutive rainy seasons due to El Nino climate phenomena, which decimated vegetation, including rain-fed crops and pastures for livestock