African Blog Assignment: Crisis in East Africa

            A major issue that became apparent in East Africa in 2011 was the world’s worst food crisis is felt in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya. Although there have been successful rains for crops to be grown, these successful rains are being looked at as failed rains which were manmade and could have been avoided. Both the international community and local governments were aware that a crisis was about to happen but both did little to stop it. Along with this is the high price of food, which is out of the reach of many civilians plus the conflict and hostile disputes stretching into Somalia. The International Community Oxfam described that 12 million people are in need of food, clean water, and basic sanitation. I picked this issue because the crisis is not focused in one single country in African but in multiple, along with the fact that this crisis could have been avoided or at least toned down.

            But why should people care about this? When millions of people are being affected by the same cause it is clear that the international community needs to respond. The world had an opportunity to save thousands of lives in parts of Somalia if small donations were made revolving around famine, which had been predicted eight months before the crisis. At the current rate around 3,500 people are fleeing Somalia per day towards Ethiopia and Kenya, which has been stricken with one of the driest years in six decades.

            Currently Kenya is operating under a semi-presidential democratic republic while Ethiopia operates under a federal parliamentary republic. Both countries have power either under a prime minister, president, or the government. In either case the high powers within the governments could take action to stop the influx of Somalia’s civilians leaving them with little or no options. Although I find that none of these countries as associated with a resource curse, rentier effect, or modernization effect, the fact that famine is currently hitting all of East Africa is a scary thought. In order for these countries to avoid future famine attacks certain actions need to be put in place: Help from the international community, rehabilitation of water points, increased veterinary services targeting dry season grazing areas, nutrition support programs, and increase food security.

"East Africa Food Crisis 2011." - Global Issues. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. <http://www.globalissues.org/article/796/east-africa-food-crisis>.

"Kenya Profile." BBC News. BBC, 26 Sept. 2012. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13681341>.

"Background Note: Ethiopia." U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State, n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. <http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2859.htm>.