Africa’s drought: Is weather or war to blame?
As up to 12 million people face famine, we ask what has caused the Horn of Africa’s worst drought in 60 years?
The Horn of Africa is in the middle of its worst drought in more than 60 years with up to 12 million people facing famine. A prolonged dry season has led to crop failures and food shortages in parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti and Somalia.
Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes in search of food, many heading for what has become the world’s largest refugee camp.
In this show we ask: Why is this particular region so vulnerable to drought and famine? Is the reason weather or war?
Inside Story, with presenter Mike Hanna, discusses with guests: Daphne Wysham, a fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies and a climate policy analyst; Aly Khan Satchu, a financial analyst and CEO of Rich Investments; and Alan Tomlinson, the emergency programme co-ordinator at Care International.
This episode of Inside Story aired from Sunday, July 10, 2011.