Ghana famine imminent, aid officials say

ACCRA, Ghana, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- International donor response to Ghana is on the decline, prompting officials to warn of a looming famine if aid doesn't increase.

The International Federation of the Red Cross issued a plea in early October saying that “because of the preceding drought and the end of the planting season, there is an inevitable situation of food insecurity, which is likely to last until the next harvest.”

Severe droughts plagued northern Ghana recently and when rains did come, most of the crops, homes and livestock washed away in the deluge, the U.N. Integrated Regional Information Network said.

The IFRC estimated nearly half of the staple crops were destroyed.

The United Nations and several humanitarian aid agencies launched several appeals for aid, though many organizations claim they fell on deaf ears.

An appeal by the United Nations for nearly $12.5 million in aid realized only 22 percent of that total as of Thursday, IRIN reported.

Aid officials noted that many residents are limited to one meal a day and worry there won't be enough food to see them through to the next planting season in May.

A delegation from the Ministry of the Interior in Ghana did say, however, that relief items remained in several government warehouses and issues regarding distribution were being resolved.