UN calls for urgent assistance for El-Nino victims

About 30 million people affected by the El-nino pattern worldwide need urgent assistance, the UN humanitarian office has warned.

According to the body, about 15 million of those who need the urgent assistance are from Southern Africa where the drought situation has become critical.

An estimated 60 million worldwide find it difficult feeding themselves as a result of the El-nino phenomenon but the situation has become critical for half of the figure.

The report however stresses that Ethiopia is the worst affected by the drought with more than 10 million people in urgent need of food.

The El-nino pattern has affected rains in Zimbabwe, Sudan, Somalia and Lesotho.

Despite efforts by various governments to remedy the situation, relief efforts still face a two billion dollars deficit, the report further says.

It warns that the situation will get worse in the second half of 2016 if urgent action is not taken.

The Food and Agricultural Organisation, FAO has reiterated that climate change, conflict and social inequality are the major challenges in Africa’s quest for a future free from hunger and want.

“These crisis vividly remind us of the importance of scaling up resilience interventions targeting vulnerable populations whose livelihoods mainly depend on agriculture, livestock, fisheries, forestry and other renewable natural resources,” FAO Director General, José Graziano said earlier this month during the body’s regional conference for Africa.

Although the El-nino has started to weaken, experts predict that the impact will likely continue until about August when green harvests are expected.