East Africa Drought - Somali Refugees - UNHCR Appeal 2011

August 2011 - The year 2011 is proving to be the driest year since 1951 in many parts of east Africa as a result of an increasingly severe drought. Successive seasons of failed rains combined with increasing food prices conflict and limited humanitarian access have resulted in food insecurity water shortages and acute malnutrition rates well above emergency thresholds. More than 12 million people are now in need of humanitarian assistance throughout the region. In addition hundreds of thousands of Somalis have been forced to flee their homes to seek relief in neighbouring countries crossing the border into Kenya Ethiopia and Djibouti. With CIDA support the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is providing emergency assistance to more than 580 000 displaced Somalis now living in camps in Kenya Ethiopia and Djibouti. Working with its implementing partners UNHCR is providing access to shelter water and sanitation medical and nutritional support and protection for vulnerable men women and children who have fled the drought and famine in Somalia.