UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations (UN) said on Tuesday that an estimated 10 million people across the Horn of Africa are facing a severe food crisis following a prolonged drought in the region.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in an update that child malnutrition rates in some areas are twice the emergency threshold amid high food prices that have left families desperate. OCHA added that in some areas of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda drought conditions are the worst in 60 years.

According to OCHA, drought-related displacement and refugee flows are on the rise, with an average of 15,000 Somalis arriving in Kenya and Ethiopia every month this year. Almost half of the children arriving in refugees camps in Ethiopia from southern Somalia are malnourished, while 11 districts in Kenya have reported malnutrition rates above the 15 per cent emergency threshold.

"While conflict has been a fact of life for them for years, it is the drought that has taken them to breaking point. Many have walked for days, are exhausted, in poor health, desperate for food and water, and arriving in a worse condition than usual," the OCHA update said.

OCHA urged governments, donors and relief agencies to step up efforts to prevent further deterioration. Further food price hikes are expected in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Somalia, but could ease after the next harvests expected later this year.

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