"This is the worst food crisis of the 21st Century and we are seriously concerned that large numbers of lives could soon be lost."
That's from Jane Cocking, Oxfam's Humanitarian Director, who along with the Save The Children organization, is calling for $144 million in aid to malnourished East Africans. "Aid agencies are calling it the worst drought in 60 years," reports ClimateWire/NYT.
". drought remains a major threat with no likelihood of improvement until early 2012. Millions of people in danger from drought plaguing East Africa."
A joint report by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET), World Food Program (WFP) and the UN Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) sounded the call for action on the dire social and environmental crisis:
http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/07/05/260744/worst-food-crisis-of-the-21st-century-driven-by-worst-drought-in-60-years-in-east-africa-as-climate-change-makes-reduced-rainfall-a-chronic-problem/
"Worst Food Crisis of the 21st Century" Driven by "Worst Drought in 60 Years" in East Africa, as Climate Change Makes Reduced Rainfall a "Chronic Problem" :: ThinkProgress