The door to prevent famine is closing [Kenya, Action Against Hunger]

• THE clock is ticking on the hunger crisis in East Africa.

While there has been a flurry of news articles on the hunger crisis in East Africa, the action needed has been less forthcoming.

The door to prevent famine is closing quickly.

As an international community we are falling woefully short in responding to the
ever-rising mortality rates brought on by climate change, conflict and rising food prices.

In 2017 the international community prevented famine through quick and effective action.

They must do so again, not only because it is the right thing to do but because it is far more cost-effective than waiting until famine has been declared.

Prevention and anticipatory action is the only possible answer, alongside immediate food assistance.

When people are compelled to move because their livelihoods have all but evaporated, the cost of meeting their basic needs becomes immeasurably higher.

Rather than waiting for families to abandon their homes and become dependent on a stretched humanitarian and state support system, families need water and access to basic health care from the outset.

The water can help them grow crops and health care can help limit the rapid spread of diseases that are deadly in malnourished bodies.

The clock is ticking and we can no longer afford to wait.

KATE MUNRO
Head of Advocacy at Action Against Hunger UK