A two-year drought across the countries of Eastern Africa and the Horn of Africa is taking its toll on the most vulnerable people: subsistence farmers and pastoralists. In Kenya’s northwestern Turkana region, the worst drought in 40 years is forcing people to sell weakened animals at below market rates in order to survive. Others are moving into emergency feeding centres.

The UN’s World Food Program is feeding one in six Kenyans, almost 4 million people, and says it needs $300 million to feed them for the next six months. Ethiopia’s government has launched an international appeal for $175 million in aid to head off the crisis. AllAfrica, BBC, Wall Street Journal

Update 13:00 Police in Islamabad believe the suicide bomber who blew up the World Food Program (WFP) office in Islamabad, Pakistan Monday 5 October walked into the building weraing paramilitary clothing, after asking if he could use the toilets. The bomb, which went off in the reception area, killed five WFP staff and has left several others in critical condition in hospital. THE WFP provides food for more than 10 million people in Pakistan, including 2 million who are receiving emergency aid in the Swat Valley, according to a statement from the head of WFP, Josette Sheeran. Security had been tight at the building, with anyone entering screened for weapons and some media are speculating that security guards must have been involved.The WFP reportedly received no advance warning of the attack.

The Taliban Tuesday claimed they were behind the attack.

Links to other sites: Al Jazeera, Associated Press, Pakistan Observer, Washington Post