Drought in Somalia exacts heavy toll on herders

The land here dried up not long after he arrived, leaving his animals weak from hunger and thirst.
His goats drank water from a plastic barrel and picked dry leaves from plants nearby.
“I don’t even think these remaining ones will survive in the next two months,” Haji said.
He left his wife and five children behind on his eight-day trek, fearing they wouldn’t survive.
It is not clear how many people, or animals, have died so far.
The United Nations says more than half the population is engaged in the livestock industry.
With their livestock gone, herders are ending up in camps with shortages of food, medicine and safe drinking water.
There was no transport or water.
“They are just still alive but cannot benefit us at all.” With the rise of disease-related deaths among the remaining animals, the United Nations is planning a major animal vaccination intervention.
“Hungry animals, starving animals are very vulnerable, very prone to disease,” Trenchard said.

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