Horn of Africa drought worsens, herds decimated
The land was dry and people in the Horn of Africa waited for rain. When it finally came, it was only 20 per cent of the usual rainfall. But the worst is yet to come. 
An estimated 3.2 million people in Ethiopia, 3 million in Somalia and 2.4 million people in Kenya are greatly affected by the current food insecurity.
An additional 3.5 million people living in urban areas of Kenya are equally in need of food aid.
Failed rains
For communities that hoped to be harvesting in October, failed rains could be the final blow of a two decades beating from the weather.
June through October will be harsh months for farmers and pastoralists whose herds have already experienced devastating losses.Some pastoralists communities today have no animals left.
Pastoralists
Pastoralists typically graze their animals at various sites along a set route through the driest part of a year. During the rainy season most plant crops.
"Left as is to today, pastoralism may not remain a viable mode of living 50 years down the road," said Stuart Katwikirize, Director for Humanitarian Emergencies in East Africa.
Livestock
The livelihood of Mohammed Yusuf, a 76-year-old father of six from Kenya, has been crippled by the drought.
“Our livestock have died and continue to die everyday,” the old man said. “I have never in my life seen animals just falling down and dying like flies. This is the worst drought ever to strike our land.”
Of the 400 herds of goats he had, only 40 remain. Even the donkeys he once used to fetch water have succumbed from thirst and starvation.
World Vision response
World Vision is responding to this crisis in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.
The organisation is providing water, sanitation and hygiene programming, food programmes, school feedings, veterinary support and supplementary feeding for livestock.