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July 12, 2011

United Nations Describes Somalia As "Worst Humanitarian Disaster in the World" 
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U.N. officials say they are struggling to cope with the growing number
of refugees in eastern Africa because of the severe drought in Somalia
and neighboring countries. The United Nations says increasing numbers of
malnourished young children are dying after trekking for weeks to
receive emergency aid. Antonio Guterres, the head of the U.N. refugee
agency, has described the drought as "worst humanitarian disaster in the
world."

Antonio Guterrres, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees: "I believe that
we are witnessing in the Horn of Africa today, especially in Somalia,
the most tragic humanitarian disaster. The fact that conflict and
drought are combining itself creating a terrible situation for the
people that is forced to flee in big numbers. Children dying on the way,
children coming to Ethiopia or to Kenya and doctors not even being even
able to treat them because of the level of 
malnutrition that they face."



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