The Horn of Africa is home to almost 140 million people and is in the grip of a savage drought that has already left 12 million facing starvation. Picture: News Limited Source: Herald Sun

Here is a list of the top ten reasons.

1. THE UN
The United Nation’s World Food Program has been slow to tackle the crisis and is failing to contain it. It is also riven by in-fighting and hampered by America’s reluctance to release aid funding.

• Read the UN report detailing the desperate situation in Somalia

2. THE US
Many have accused the US with-holding aid funding because it is scared the money will end up in the hands of Islamic militants al-Shabab, which controls much of Somalia's famine affected areas. They further accuse the US of only taking an interest in Somalia “in relation to the war on terror, piracy and oil".

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3. ISLAMIC MILITANTS
Al-Shahab is responsible for killing aid workers and extorting cash from aid groups trying to help Somalia's starving people. The militant group has stood in the way of any efforts to get food to those affected.

4. SOMALIA’S GOVERNMENT
The recognised government of Somalia has almost no territory and little real authority outside of the capital Mogadishu. It has no chance of helping its starving.

Fighting in Somalia

Militants in southern Somalia have banned unrelated men and women from talking in public / AP

Source: AP

5. KENYA
Kenya’s leaders have for many years neglected the people who live along its border with Somalia and are ill-equipped to cope with the famine now ravaging the whole of East Africa.

6. THE REST OF AFRICA
When it comes to problems affecting one of their own, the attitude of Africa’s nations is more often than not one of “What can we do about it? We have our own problems”.

• See the human tide of Somalian refugees spreading through Africa

7. CLIMATE CHANGE
Extreme changes in weather mean more droughts that are longer and more severe. Industrialised nations share responsibility for the changes affecting our planet.

Somalia Drought

Holding their utensils, Somalis from southern Mogadishu, wait to receive food at a camp in Mogadishu. Picture:AP/Mohamed Sheikh Nor

Source: AP

8. POPULATION GROWTH
The horn of Africa is home to almost 140 million people. That population is expected to grow while the number of live stock and other food resources is expected to stay the same.

9. THE MEDIA
The media plays a crucial role in persuading political leaders to act in a time of crisis. If journalists ignore a crisis, it makes it that much easier for politicians to do so.

10. YOU
Most people in the first world ignore famines until it's too late.

SOMALIA-DROUGHT-FAMINE

Desperate: Women line up for rations at an aid camp near Mogadishu. Picture: AFP

Source: AFP