By Akane Sandom
The Horn of Africa needs US$1.1 billion in aid or officials say there is the risk that a generation will be lost.
Of the required US$2.5 billion monetary aid, US$1.4 billion has been committed, with 33 percent having been donated since July this year.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs’ (UN OCHR) July report outlines the majority having been supplied in the form of emergency food assistance with US$870 million spent on food supplies, and US$93 million towards health and nutrition.
The summit meeting of the African Union at the end of August showed concern over the struggles to be faced to raise funds for the region. With only four heads of state in attendance, the total pledge from the African governments only reached $46 million, falling short of the US$50 million, anticipated by Non-government organisations (NGOs).
The African Development Bank however announced their donation at the summit, of $300 million towards the long-term development of the region.
By country ranking, (as of the 22nd August) the UK has been top donor with US$62 million closely followed by the US with US$61 million.
Somalia's crisis has also caused an estimated 1.7 million people to become displaced, and is now home to the largest refugee camp in the world.
Funding for the Horn of Africa has since been increasingly brought to the world’s attention with many high profile officials advocating the immediate need for aid.
United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro joined in voicing the conditions of the dire situation.
"The future of an entire generation hangs in the balance," stressed Ms Migiro at the African Union summit. "We will be asked how we stood by and watched a generation die, how we allowed a crisis to become a catastrophe, when we could have stopped it."
Ms Migiro also commented on the situation of current funding.
"Some elements of this crisis have been well funded; others, less so. No one must be forgotten."
The peninsula region of Northeast Africa has been experiencing extreme drought with famine being officially declared in five regions of Southern Somalia.
With an estimated total of 12.4 million people in need of assistance, the situation in the area has been described as the worst humanitarian crisis of 2011 by the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees Antonio Guterres.
Akane Sandom is working with UNICEF as part of the 3Youth project, an upcoming section of the 3 News website focusing on social issues and written by young people.