East Africa drought update

What is the current situation like for those living in the Horn of Africa and east Africa where last year some 13 million people were threatened by famine as a result of drought and conflict? The humanitarian crisis there has mostly slipped off the radar of the international community compared to the height of the crisis last summer. The good news, however, is that the number of people at risk of outright famine has been dramatically reduced thanks to last year’s massive aid programme mounted by the U.N. and relief agencies.

One of the agencies that were in the forefront of the relief operation was the Caritas Internationalis Confederation that was able to assist around one million victims of hunger and drought in this region of Africa. Laura Sheahen is the Communications Officer for Caritas Internationalis and recently visited 3 regions of Kenya, following on from an earlier visit to the nation at the height of the humanitarian crisis. She spoke with Susy Hodges about what she saw and heard during her latest trip.

Listen to the full interview by Susy Hodges with Laura Sheahen: