Worsening drought requires scaled-up joint efforts – Omuhaka.
The CAS stated the IGAD place debts for 22 according to cent of 205 million humans globally, which can be acutely meals insecure.
The drought situation in the country has continued to worsen with reports indicating that, 4.35 million Kenyans are going to bed hungry.
This indicates that several Kenyans are in dire need of humanitarian assistance.
The hunger crisis comes on the back of a series of man-made shocks and natural disasters that have simultaneously affected the IGAD region.
They include conflict and insecurity, desert locust invasion, seasonal flooding and the widespread effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
On Friday, Agriculture Chief Administrative Secretary Lawrence Omuhaka said for the last three years, rains have failed in the horn of Africa for five consecutive seasons.
“The entire horn of Africa is now weathering a catastrophic drought which is the worst in recent history,” Omuhaka said.
Omuhaka spoke at Movenpick hotel, Nairobi, in a meeting where IGAD member states identified priorities and mechanisms for strengthening national and regional food systems' resilience and sustainability.
Ministers from Sudan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda and Djibouti attended the event.
The CAS said the IGAD region accounts for 22 per cent of 205 million people globally, that are acutely food insecure.
“In addition, 10 million children under five are suffering from acute malnutrition,” he said.
Omuhaka said seven out of eight IGAD countries with over 50 million people face acute food insecurity.
The CAS said despite the government declaring food insecurity a national disaster, 4.35 million Kenyans experience severe acute food insecurity in 23 arid and semiarid areas and need humanitarian assistance.
“Furthermore, 942,000 cases of children aged 6 months to around five years are acutely malnourished in addition to 134,000 cases of pregnant or lactating women acutely malnourished and in need of treatment,” Omuhaka said.
Omuhaka stated seven out of 8 IGAD international locations with over 50 million humans face acute meals insecurity.
