The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said Tuesday that in 2022 more than 20 million people in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya will need urgent food assistance because of severe drought and conflict.

"This is an increase of over 70% compared to food crises in 2016 and 2017," the agency said on Twitter.

The sharp increase in food assistance needs is primarily driven by the effects of severe drought across the eastern portion of the region and by consequences of conflict, especially in northern Ethiopia, according to UNOCHA.

Most areas of the Horn of Africa are experiencing water shortages and record-low vegetation conditions, reflecting the degradation of pasture for livestock and wilting or absent crop growth, said the UN.

"Given the potential for a historic fourth consecutive poor rainfall season in early 2022 and given the likelihood that conflict in northern Ethiopia will persist, there is high concern that household food consumption gaps will widen and drive rising levels of acute malnutrition and mortality through mid-to-late 2022," the UN said in a report last week.

During the October to December 2021 season, rainfall failed in most of Somalia, southern and southeastern Ethiopia and northern and eastern Kenya, resulting in a third consecutive below-average season, according to the report.

Somalia's South West State Humanitarian Affairs Minister Abdinasir Arush told Anadolu Agency that the current drought is severe, especially in the Bay and Bakol regions.

"Districts towns in the Bakol region, which has been under al-Shabaab blockade for over eight years, are witnessing severe heat and worst drought," said Arush.

He said residents are crying for help. "We are doing whatever we can to help but our resources are very limited."

Somalia has declared the crisis a "Humanitarian State of emergency" and urged urgent humanitarian intervention./aa