UN: Somalia drought is worst humanitarian crisis

DADAAB, Kenya (AP) -- The head of the U.N. refugee agency said Sunday that drought-ridden Somalia is the "worst humanitarian disaster" in the world after meeting with refugees who endured unspeakable hardship to reach the world's largest refugee camp.
The Kenyan camp, Dadaab, is overflowing with tens of thousands of newly arrived refugees forced into the camp by the parched landscape in the region where Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya meet. The World Food Program estimates that 10 million people already need humanitarian aid. The U.N. Children's Fund estimates that more than 2 million children are malnourished and in need of lifesaving action.
Antonio Guterres, the head of UNHCR who visited Dadaab on Sunday, appealed to the world to supply the "massive support" needed by thousands of refugees showing up at this camp every week. More than 380,000 refugees now live there.(40 images)

Somali refugees lead their herds of goats home for the night, inside Dagahaley Camp, outside Dadaab, Kenya, Sunday, July 10, 2011. U.N. refugee chief Antonio Guterres said Sunday that drought-ridden Somalia is the "worst humanitarian disaster" in the world after meeting with refugees who endured unspeakable hardship to reach the world's largest refugee camp in Dadaab, Kenya. Rebecca Blackwell / AP

 

A child from southern Somalia stands outside a makeshift shelter in Mogadishu, Somalia, Sunday, July 10, 2011 after fleeing from southern Somalia. Mohamed Sheikh Nor / AP

Recently-arrived Somali refugees wait to be registered at a reception center at Dagahaley Camp, outside Dadaab, Kenya, Sunday, July 10, 2011. Rebecca Blackwell / AP

Somalis from southern Somalia wait for food aid from a Muslim Aid Organization, Sunday, July 10, 2011, in Mogadishu, Somalia, after fleeing from southern Somalia. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

Members of the family of Rage Mohamed construct the frame for a makeshift shelter, built around a thorny acacia tree, on the outskirts of Dagahaley Camp, outside Dadaab, Kenya, Sunday, July 10, 2011. Rebecca Blackwell / AP

Members of the family of Rage Mohamed are overtaken by wind-blown dust as they build a makeshift shelter around a thorny acacia tree, on the outskirts of Dagahaley Camp, outside Dadaab, Kenya, Sunday, July 10, 2011. Rebecca Blackwell / AP

Luul Jeele, 23, holds her one-year-old son Issack Ahmed as she waits for her father to construct a makeshift shelter for their family, on the outskirts of Dagahaley Camp, outside Dadaab, Kenya, Sunday, July 10, 2011. Rebecca Blackwell / AP

A woman from southern Somali carries a plastic can of oil after receiving aid from a Muslim Aid Organization as other wait for their turn to receive aid in Mogadishu, Somalia, Sunday, July 10, 2011. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

An old man from southern Somalia walk on makeshift crutches amongst makeshift shelters on the road near a church Sunday, July 10, 2011 in Mogadishu, Somalia, after fleeing from southern Somalia. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

A family from southern Somali make their way to a shelter in Mogadishu, Somalia, after fleeing from southern Somalia, Sunday, July 10, 2011. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

Women from southern Somali carry food after receiving AID from a Muslim organiZation in Mogadishu, Somalia, after fleeing from southern Somalia, Sunday, July 10, 2011. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

A Somali family from southern Somalia, wait in an open area in Mogadishu, Somalia, Sunday, July 10, 2011 after fleeing from southern Somalia. Mohamed Sheikh Nor / AP

An infant being treated for severe malnutrition rests in a sling at his mother's side at a hospital operated by the International Rescue Committee, in Hagadera Camp outside Dadaab, Kenya, Saturday, July 9, 2011. Rebecca Blackwell / AP

A Somali girl being treated for severe malnutrition pushes away a cup as a woman tries to feed her at a hospital operated by the International Rescue Commission, at Hagadera Camp outside Dadaab, Kenya, Saturday, July 9, 2011. Rebecca Blackwell / AP

Somali women tend to their children, who are being treated for severe malnutrition, at a hospital operated by the International Rescue Committee, in Hagadera Camp outside Dadaab, Kenya, Saturday, July 9, 2011. Rebecca Blackwell / AP

An old Somali woman from southern Somalia is helped by his son inside a ruined building, Saturday, July 9, 2011, before making their way to the internally displaced camps in Mogadishu, Somalia, after fleeing from southern Somalia. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

A Somali refugee cradles her one-month old twins, born at the camp hospital, as she sits on the sand floor of a makeshift shelter in Hagadera Camp, outside Dadaab, Kenya, Saturday, July 9, 2011. Rebecca Blackwell / AP

A Somali woman shields her child from the dust as she walks amongst makeshift shelters built by new arrivals, on the outskirts of Hagadera Camp, outside Dadaab, Kenya, Saturday, July 9, 2011. Rebecca Blackwell / AP

A malnourished child from southern Somalia, takes shelter in a destroyed building in Mogadishu, Somalia, Saturday, July 9, 2011 after fleeing from southern Somalia. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

A Somali child from southern Somalia holds his brother as they wait outside a ruined building before making their way to the internally displaced persons camps in Mogadishu, Somalia, after fleeing from southern Somalia, Friday, July 8, 2011. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

A malnourished child from southern Mogadishu, lies on a wooden table at Banadir hospital, in Mogadishu, Somalia, Friday, July 8, 2011. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

A malnourished child from southern Somalia lies on bed at Banadir hospital, Mogadishu Friday, July 8, 2011 after fleeing from southern Somalia. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

A malnourished child from southern Somalia lies on bed at Banadir hospital, Mogadishu Friday, July 8, 2011 after fleeing from southern Somalia. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

A Somali mother holds her child as other sleeps on the floor at Banadir hospital, Friday, July 8, 2011, in Mogadishu, Somalia, after fleeing from southern Somalia. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

Somalis sit inside a ruined building as they wait to go to the internally displaced peoples camps in Mogadishu, Somalia, after fleeing from southern Somalia, Friday, July 8, 2011. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

A malnourished child from southern Somalia, sits on her mothers lap at Banadir hospital, Friday, July 8, 2011, in Mogadishu, Somalia, after fleeing from southern Somalia. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

A Somali mother holds her malnourished child, at Banadir hospital, Friday, July 8, 2011, in Mogadishu, Somalia, after fleeing from southern Somalia. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

Women and children from southern Somalia, wait outside a ruined building before making their way to the internally displaced camps in Mogadishu, Somalia, after fleeing from southern Somalia, Friday, July 8, 2011. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

A malnourished child from southern Somalia lies on bed at Banadir hospital, Mogadishu Friday, July 8, 2011 the family fled from southern Somalia. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

A girl from southern Somalia holds her baby brother outside a makeshift house, Friday, July 8, 2011, in Mogadishu, Somalia, after fleeing from southern Somalia. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

Women from southern Somalia carrying babies make their way to a camp for internally displaced people in Mogadishu, Somalia, after fleeing from southern Somalia, Friday, July 8, 2011. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

A malnourished child from southern Somalia sits inside a ruined building before transfering to a camp for internally displaced people in Mogadishu, Somalia, after fleeing from southern Somalia, Friday, July 8, 2011. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

A southern Somali mother holds her malnourished child in Banadir hospital, Mogadishu Friday, July 8, 2011 after fleeing from southern Somalia. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

A southern Sudan mother holds her malnourished child in Banadir hospital, Mogadishu Friday, July 8, 2011 after fleeing from southern Somalia. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

Somalis from southern Somalia receive food at a camp in Mogadishu distributed by the Jumbo organization, a local NGO, in Mogadishu, Somalia, after fleeing from southern Somalia, Thursday, July 7, 2011. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

Somalis women and children from southern Mogadishu, line up to receive food at a camp in Mogadishu distributed by Jumbo organization a local NGO in Mogadishu , Somalia, after fleeing from southern Somalia, Thursday, July 7, 2011. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

Members of a Somali family from southern Somalia, make their way to the internally displaced camps in Mogadishu, Somalia, after fleeing from southern Somalia, Thursday, July 7, 2011. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

A child sits in her fathers lap as they wait outside a derelict building before they make their way to the internally displaced camps in Mogadishu, Somalia, after fleeing from southern Somalia, Thursday, July 7, 2011. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

Somalis from southern Somalia receive food at a camp in Mogadishu distributed by the Jumbo organization, a local NGO, in Mogadishu, Somalia, after fleeing from southern Somalia, Thursday, July 7, 2011. Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP

The carcase of a cow lies on an empty road near Lagbogal, 56 kilometers from Wajir town, Kenya, Wednesday, July 6, 2011. Sayyid Azim / AP