More than 800,000 people need food assistance while over 3.3 million livestock have perished (Picture: Borana Zone Communication)Addis Abeba – The Oromia Physicians’ Association (OPA ), a non-governmental professional association, said the prolonged drought in Borana zone of Oromia regional state in Southwestern Ethiopia has apparently brought the most drastic impact on the health of the people. In a statement sent to Addis Standard the association said “people are dying of hunger and treatable conditions, with a death toll on the rise due to the loss of millions of livestock and little to no food supply”. Malnutrition, dehydration, and water-borne diseases are a few of the health issues that have arisen following the drought according to OPA. The number of SAM cases in drought affected districts of Afar, Oromia, Somali and SNNPR regions has increased in 2022 by 21 percent compared to 2021 it added. In a 18 January report UN OCHA said the drought impact is expected to further worsen after January 2023 across the drought affected zones as they enter the dry season, adding that, “severe water shortage” have been reported in ten drought affected districts in Oromia region.

Source: Ethiopian News March 08, 2023 21:52 UTC