Bi-Weekly Press Briefing: Food Insecurity Crisis Horn of Africa - WHO 02 August 2022
/
2:28
/
MP4
/
181.3 MB

Edited News | WHO

Bi-Weekly Press Briefing: Food Insecurity Crisis Horn of Africa - WHO 02 August 2022

The World Health Organization (WHO) today raised growing alarm over the urgent health needs that over 80 million people in the greater Horn of Africa are facing due to the combination of increased food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition.

Over 80 million people in the horn of Africa are facing food insecurity not seen in decades, as millions of people are at risk of starvation”, said Dr Ibrahima Soce FALL, WHO Assistant Director-General for Emergencies while speaking at a press briefing at the United Nations in Geneva. “The combination of increased food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition are causing a complex, unrecognized health emergency”.

WHO launched today a funding appeal for $US 123.7 million to carry out urgent lifesaving work until December 2022.

According to WHO’s Dr. Fall, the role of health in the response to famine crisis has often been underrecognized. “It is very unfortunate that people’s access to health care is more restricted because they are on the move in search of food, water, pasture and they may also have to make hard choices like between buying food and going to see a doctor ».

WHO is working to detect and respond to outbreaks of diseases such as measles, cholera and meningitis, some of which are already happening in a number of countries.

“Our main focus is to make sure that severely malnourished children who are sick get the care they need. Life-saving supplies, and drugs and equipment are available”, said Dr. Fall who was speaking via zoom from Dakar, Senegal.

WHO has intensified the response in 7 affected countries: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.

The big problem we are having at this moment is that, contrary to previous crises, the prevention on the food security side is not being funded enough », said Dr Sophie MAES, WHO’s Incident Manager, Drought and food insecurity crisis in the greater Horn of Africa.Normally what you do in this kind of situation is you do blanket supplementary feeding so that people don’t slide further into malnutrition. This is not being well funded at the moment.”

An acute food insecurity crisis is also a health crisis because health risks like malnutrition, disease and outbreaks have increased and secondly, people have less access to health care just when they need it the most.

The effects on health are doubled », according to Dr. Maes. «The health risks are going up with this synergy between disease and malnutrition, really making people much more vulnerable because people who are malnourished become more easily sick, and sick people become even more easily malnourished. That is one thing, then secondly, there is a real real lack of clean water, so there is a much higher risk of waterborne diseases.”

WHO’s stressed that the role of health in the response to famine crises has been often underrecognized.

People in the search for food and water are more prone to be exposed to the risk of violence, especially gender based violence.

People are desperate to get money, so there is survival sex going on. There is more violence fighting for the meager resources,” said Dr. Maes.

-ends-

  1. Medium shot, UN Geneva flag alley.
  2. Wide shot, press room with journalists
  3. SOUNDBITE( English) Dr Ibrahima Soce FALL (Zoom from Dakar, Senegal), WHO Assistant Director-General for Emergencies : “Over 80 million people in the horn of Africa are facing food insecurity not seen in decades, as millions of people are at risk of starvation. The combination of increased food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition are causing a complex, unrecognized health emergency”.
  4. Medium shot, journalists taking notes.
  5. SOUNDBITE( English) Dr Ibrahima Soce FALL (Zoom from Dakar, Senegal), WHO Assistant Director-General for Emergencies : “It is very unfortunate that people’s access to health care is more restricted because they are on the move in search of food, water, pasture and they may also have to make hard choices like between buying food and going to see a doctor".
  6. Medium shot, TV screen showing speakers, UN logo backdrop panel
  7. SOUNDBITE( English) Dr Ibrahima Soce FALL (Zoom from Dakar, Senegal), WHO Assistant Director-General for Emergencies : “Our main focus is to make sure that severely malnourished children who are sick get the care they need. Life saving supplies and drugs and equipment are available.”
  8. Medium shot, Podium,TV screen showing speakers, journalists taking notes.
  9. SOUNDBITE( English) Dr Sophie MAES (Zoom from Nairobi, Kenya), WHO Incident Manager, Drought and food insecurity crisis in the greater Horn of Africa : “The big problem we are having at this moment is that, contrary to previous crises, the prevention on the food security side is not being funded enough. Normally what you do in this kind of situation is you do blanket supplementary feeding so that people don’t slide further into malnutrition. This is not being well funded at the moment.”
  10. Medium shot, TV screen showing speakers, journalists taking notes.
  11. SOUNDBITE( English) Dr Sophie MAES (Zoom from Nairobi, Kenya), WHO Incident Manager, Drought and food insecurity crisis in the greater Horn of Africa : “The effects on health are doubled. The health risks are going up with this synergy between disease and malnutrition, really making people much more vulnerable because people who are malnourished become more easily sick, and sick people become even more easily malnourished. That is one thing, then secondly, there is a real real lack of clean water, so there is a much higher risk of waterborne diseases.”
  12. Medium shot, Journalists listening.
  13. SOUNDBITE( English) Dr Sophie MAES (Zoom from Nairobi, Kenya), WHO Incident Manager, Drought and food insecurity crisis in the greater Horn of Africa: “People are desperate to get money, so there is survival sex going on. There is more violence fighting for the meager resources.
  14. Close-up. Journalist taking photos.
  15. Close-up. Journalists listening
  16. Medium Shot, Journalist taking notes
  17. Wide shot, journalists, TV camera on tripod and light panel.

Similar Stories

Gaza healthcare attacks – WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza healthcare attacks – WHO ENG FRA

The ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza City continues to overwhelm the war-torn enclave’s medical professionals, with four more hospitals forced to shut down this month alone, the UN World Health Organization said on Friday.

UN Report: Civilian detainees subjected to troubling patterns of torture and ill treatment since Russia’s full scale attack on Ukraine

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Report: Civilian detainees subjected to troubling patterns of torture and ill treatment since Russia’s full scale attack on Ukraine ENG FRA

A UN Human Rights report released today details the dire situation of thousands of civilians detained since Russia’s full-scale armed attack on Ukraine in 2022. 

Sudan cholera update WHO - UNICEF

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , UNICEF

Sudan cholera update WHO - UNICEF ENG FRA

Sudan war: Life-saving cholera vaccination campaign begins in Darfur

Amid the devastating war in Sudan, UN aid teams are overcoming major obstacles to curb a cholera outbreak claiming lives across the country, with young children particularly at risk.

Afghanistan earthquake response – UN Women 19 September 2025

2

1

2

Edited News , B-roll | UN WOMEN

Afghanistan earthquake response – UN Women 19 September 2025 ENG FRA

Women and girls still reeling from Afghanistan's recent deadly earthquake face even greater suffering rebuilding their lives and livelihoods without much more help from the international community, UN Women said on Friday.

UN report: Sudan crisis deepens amid rising civilian casualties - UN Human rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence and OHCHR Sudan Representative Li Fung

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN report: Sudan crisis deepens amid rising civilian casualties - UN Human rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence and OHCHR Sudan Representative Li Fung ENG FRA

Rising civilian casualties, growing ethnic violence and the grim humanitarian situation in Sudan underscore how the crisis there is deepening, according to a UN Human rights report published today.

'Not a Target' UN Geneva Protest - 18 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNITED NATIONS

'Not a Target' UN Geneva Protest - 18 September 2025 ENG FRA

United Nations agencies staff demonstrates on Place des Nations in Geneva to denounce the killing of their colleagues in Gaza.

WMO - World Water Monitor 18 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WMO

WMO - World Water Monitor 18 September 2025 ENG FRA

The world’s water resources face growing pressure from climate change while emergencies related to the vital resource are increasingly impacting lives and livelihoods, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Thursday.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Remarks to HRC 60 Urgent debate

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Remarks to HRC 60 Urgent debate ENG FRA

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk addressed the Human Rights Council during a meeting on the Israeli strike on negotiators in Qatar on Tuesday. “Israel’s strike on negotiators in Doha on 9 September was a shocking breach of international law, an assault on regional peace and stability, and a blow against the integrity of mediation and negotiating processes around the world,” he said.

Gaza Al-Mawasi update - UNICEF

1

1

1

Edited News | UNICEF

Gaza Al-Mawasi update - UNICEF ENG FRA

Gaza: Thirsty and starving, war-battered families face ‘inhumane’ evacuation 

As bombs continue to fall on Gaza City as part of the intensifying Israeli military operation, families with starving children are being pushed southwards from one “hellscape” to another, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Elizabeth Throssell on DPRK

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Elizabeth Throssell on DPRK ENG FRA

New UN Human Rights report finds 10 years of increased suffering repression and fear

The UN Human Rights Office on Friday published a report on the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) since 2014. 

Afghanistan update - UNICEF UNHCR 12 September 2025

1

1

2

Edited News | UNICEF , UNHCR

Afghanistan update - UNICEF UNHCR 12 September 2025 ENG FRA

The ongoing humanitarian response to the devastating Afghanistan earthquake disaster continued on Friday, although essential services have been cut for operational reasons following reinforced Taliban restrictions on women working with the UN, the global body said.