18 die of hunger in Yumbe

By Justin Moro More than 18 people have been confirmed dead in Yumbe from hunger-related sickness, the LC5 chairman Ali Aluma has said. Aluma told The New Vision on Friday that prolonged drought had led to crop failure which in turn resulted into an acute food shortage. He said the district is facing a humanitarian crisis and that the number of famine victims could be higher. The New Vision learnt that at least 32 people died of hunger between August and September 12. Aluma said, “we are facing an acute food shortage and our people are dying. This famine has been due to crop failure following an erratic rainfall pattern in the last four years. “This year, from January to August, we have had rain only four times. The worst affected sub-counties are Odravu, Kuru and Romogi, including Midigo with at least one affected parish per sub-county. The young district is among new ones with hardly any food security programme.