In Kenya, children are starving due to the drought that is effecting the entire country. (Photo: WFP 2006/Peter Smerdon)

Several East African countries are suffering from a drought, a long period of little or no rainfall. A United Nations special investigator for the region warned that 11 million people are at risk of death from hunger and thirst. Three of the affected nations—Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya—also have the added burden of regional conflicts.

"Severe droughts, coupled with the effects of past and present conflicts, have led to acute shortages of water and food," said Jean Ziegler, a UN special rapporteur (person that records information).

Since December, hundreds of people and thousands of animals have died. The drought is especially destructive because many people in the affected areas depend on livestock for survival. As a result of the low rainfall, animals, with nothing to drink, fall ill and die.

"The lack of rain in parts of East Africa has put the livelihoods of millions of people at risk. The problem is not lack of food,” said Louis Michel, the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid. “It's just that many farmers face losing their cattle and are just too poor to buy the food that is available."

The Effects

The drought has also affected an important social tradition in Africa, the dowry. A dowry is money or property given by the parents of a young woman to her future husband. But in tribes like the Masai, where the dowry is a very important tradition, people cannot afford to give up any livestock, or to exchange any of the sugar, milk, and honey (as required by tradition). As a result, weddings cannot be performed.

The drought is also affecting cities, as more and more people push their way into the already overcrowded urban areas of East Africa.

"The drought and changes in weather patterns are disrupting a whole way of life," said Doug Keating of Oxfam International, which offers aid to the suffering countries. "Millions head for the cities. I think we know cities in Kenya can hardly sustain the populations they have."

What’s Next?

Organizations like the World Food Program (WFP) are asking for donations to help the struggling countries survive the drought. The European Commission has already announced that it will give 5 million euros (6.1 million dollars) to help the people suffering in Kenya. The WFP is also feeding many of the 20 million people affected by the drought.

Experts are also hoping that, in the future, African governments will become less dependent on livestock for their economies. Calestous Juma, a development expert at Harvard University, believes that East African countries should set up better transportation and communications systems. He stressed, however, that the development should not be the result of outside groups coming into Africa and taking over.

"The leadership should come from the African countries themselves," Juma said.

If you'd like to learn more about the drought in East Africa, here's your chance. Send us your questions for Stephanie Savariaud, a World Food Programme (WFP) officer. Check back soon to read Stephanie's answers online.