Famine Decimates Somalia, Aid Groups Plead With Congress For More Help

By Gabrielle Pfafflin

As drought and famine plague the Eastern African horn, humanitarian aid groups pleaded with Congress Wednesday to continue giving aid to the area and to assist spreading awareness.

Currently, families throughout Somalia, and southern Ethiopia and Kenya struggle to survive in the midst of the worst drought to hit the region in 60 years. The drought affects over 3.7 million Somalis, yet many experts agree the situation is likely to worsen in coming weeks.

Witnesses bombarded the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations with explanations regarding the inability of aid to reach the vast majority of affected areas. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State of the Bureau of African Affairs Donald Yamomoto said “60 percent of those in need are in Al Shabaab held territories.”

Unfortunately, however, Dr. Peter Pham of the Atlantic Council predicted that the death toll and number of refugees will likely increase in the coming months, if relief does not arrive in time.