What has come together in the ‘horn of Africa’ was been described by the UN’s World Food Program(WFP) as the ‘tragedy of the decade’.

In the 1984, one million people starved to death in Ethiopia due to a drought. The deaths that could mount this time would make 1984 appear mild.

Around the ‘horn’ (Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Eritrea, Djibouti) a perfect storm has come together combining a drought, internal strife, high food prices, the assassination of aid workers by Jihadists, piracy of the coast of Somalia and Kenya that is causing looting of food convoys, and the decline of remittances from expats due to the global economic slowdown that could lead to the starvation of up to 17.5 million people.

So far some efforts have been taken to limit deaths. But even some of those who have received medical treatment ended up dieing due to continuing medical problems. The WFP is doing its best to feed the people, but it estimates that it needs additional funding of up to $575 to maintain current efforts up to April.

The WFP will probably get its money from Western governments, though it should turn a little East from Africa and to the oil-rich Gulf nations whom should be already sending aid to their Arab and Muslim brethren and neighbors.