This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-africa-14779344
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Drought in Eritrea: Hunger despite government denials | |
(1 day later) | |
By Martin Plaut Africa editor, BBC World Service | By Martin Plaut Africa editor, BBC World Service |
The drought and famine that is devastating the Horn of Africa is affecting more than 12 million people. | The drought and famine that is devastating the Horn of Africa is affecting more than 12 million people. |
Yet one country in the region, Eritrea, says it has escaped the crisis, reaping a bumper harvest earlier this year. | Yet one country in the region, Eritrea, says it has escaped the crisis, reaping a bumper harvest earlier this year. |
But evidence is now mounting that the real situation in the secretive country may be rather different, with up to two in three Eritreans going hungry. | But evidence is now mounting that the real situation in the secretive country may be rather different, with up to two in three Eritreans going hungry. |
In the last decade Eritrea has become one of the world's most closed nations with no free press and no opposition. | In the last decade Eritrea has become one of the world's most closed nations with no free press and no opposition. |
So it has been difficult to verify the Eritrean government's claims that the population has the food it needs. | |
But it has now been possible to piece together an alternative picture from a variety of sources. | But it has now been possible to piece together an alternative picture from a variety of sources. |
There is an increasing trend of acute malnutrition in children under five in many areas. | There is an increasing trend of acute malnutrition in children under five in many areas. |
Satellite imagery from weather monitoring group the Famine Early Warning System shows below average rainfall from June to September. | Satellite imagery from weather monitoring group the Famine Early Warning System shows below average rainfall from June to September. |
This is the main rainy season for Eritrea and comes after years of severe drought in consecutive years. | This is the main rainy season for Eritrea and comes after years of severe drought in consecutive years. |
The human impact is to be found in northern Ethiopia. | The human impact is to be found in northern Ethiopia. |
Emaciated Eritreans are crossing the heavily militarised border at the rate of 900 a month, according to journalists in the region. | Emaciated Eritreans are crossing the heavily militarised border at the rate of 900 a month, according to journalists in the region. |
They tell tales of crops that have failed and homes without food. | They tell tales of crops that have failed and homes without food. |
The American ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, recently described Eritrea as a black hole in terms of independent information. | The American ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, recently described Eritrea as a black hole in terms of independent information. |
The Eritrean people "most likely are suffering the very same food shortages that we're seeing throughout the region (and) are being left to starve because there is not access, there's a clear-cut denial of access by the government of Eritrea of food and other humanitarian support for its people," Ms Rice said. | The Eritrean people "most likely are suffering the very same food shortages that we're seeing throughout the region (and) are being left to starve because there is not access, there's a clear-cut denial of access by the government of Eritrea of food and other humanitarian support for its people," Ms Rice said. |
Most UN agencies have been refused access to Eritrea and most aid agencies have been expelled. | Most UN agencies have been refused access to Eritrea and most aid agencies have been expelled. |
Even accredited ambassadors have the greatest difficulty in moving freely about the country, to assess the seriousness of the situation. | Even accredited ambassadors have the greatest difficulty in moving freely about the country, to assess the seriousness of the situation. |
Previous version
1
Next version