The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has made an urgent humanitarian appeal in favor of the people of eastern Africa following persistent rain failures. In a latest press release, Ihsanoglu said "It has been brought to my knowledge that over 14 million people have been suffering from various forms of malnutrition in several Eastern African countries out of which three are Member States of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, namely Somalia, Uganda and Djibouti." According to UN sources, half of the population of Somalia is faced with acute food shortages due to prolonged instability, rising high food prices world-wide, coupled with long-term prevailing drought. Likewise, Uganda and Djibouti are also facing food deficits due to persistent rain failures which have rendered nearly two million people dependent on international aid in the arid Karamoja area in Uganda while 149,000 Djiboutians are completely relying on food provided by the international community and various agencies. By the same token, the situation is no different in non-OIC member countries in Eastern Africa, such as Ethiopia and Kenya where millions of people are in need of urgent food assistance. "In this blessed and holy month of Ramadan, I solemnly appeal to all OIC Member States, Philanthropists, NGOs and all people of good-will, to generously come to the rescue of the needy people living in the affected countries to avert the possibility of mass starvation, if bold steps are not taken to complement the laudable efforts deployed by various stakeholders, " he said.
