Nobel Women's Initiative

UPDATE: UN declares drought in Somalia as full fledged famine.

Women in the horn of Africa are facing disastrous circumstances in an environmental turned humanitarian crises.  East Africa is facing its worst drought in 60 years, affecting over 10 million people.   

Mothers and their children have been arriving in the thousands to full refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya.  The refugee camp, Dabaab, in Kenya is operating at over four times its capacity and receiving 1300 more people daily, according to the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR).

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Medical attention is urgently needed for the women fleeing drought and conflict.   Half the children arriving at the Dollo Ado camp in Ethiopia are malnourished.  Aid organizations are desperately appealing for resources and funds.   

The humanitarian crises continues as the refugee camps have seen dramatic increases in cases of rape and sexual abuse of women.  According to CARE, 358 incidents were reported from January to June, up from 75 in the same period last year.  Regardless of current need and two years of UN pressure on the government, Kenya is refusing to open up an existing refugee camp that is currently empty.  

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UN Declares Famine in Southern Somalia, AFP, 20 July 2011.

Rape on the Rise in UN Refugee Camp: CARE, AFP, 12 July 2011.

Ban 'Extremely Worried' By Horn OF Africa Draught, AFP, July 12 2011.

Millions of Lives Threatened in Horn of Africa, Mail and Guardian, 12 July 2011.

Your Questions Answered: Online Chat from Dabaab Refugee Camp, The Guardian, 12 July 2011.

Kenya Refuses to Open Empty Refugee Camp as Thousands Flee Famine, The Telegraph, 11 July 2011.