By Louis Belanger

Oxfam International Spokesman in New York

Posted: December 19, 2009

I went to Somaliland, the north western part of Somalia, back in November this year. Going across this arid region, I witnessed the droughts that are now destroying a centuries-old way of life, that of semi-nomadic herders.

November rains that were expected to ease the hunger crisis in East Africa have failed yet again in some of the worst hit areas, including Somaliland. The worsening of the conflict and the drought has left 3.6 million people - nearly half of the country's population - in need of aid.

The people I met in Somaliland told me they have lost 70-80 per cent of their animals. Some initial rainfall in early October brought signs of hope, but after only a few weeks the rain stopped again in many of the driest and most vulnerable areas.

Meet some of the people and places of Somaliland: Click here 

Source: The Huffington Post, December 18, 2009

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