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In a report released here Wednesday, UNICEF regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Per Engebak, said that the number comprised a large proportion of the more than 14 million people critically affected and the numbers were on an alarming upward trajectory.
Experts are grimly predicting that millions more children and families could be engulfed across the Horn if steps are not taken immediately to address the crisis
Yet, responses to the crisis remain discouraging, despite the seriousness of the situation.
"Strong national leadership is needed at this critical juncture, and more international funding must be quickly mobilized. The risks to children and their families are immense and we are running out of time to reverse them," said Engebak.
She said that drought had come on top of the worst conflict seen for many years in the troubled region, particularly in much of Central and Southern Somalia and in parts of Somali Region of Ethiopia.
The weak or largely failed governance systems are unable to respond to the needs of the population and in some cases actually impede relief measures, said the agency.
Aid workers, for instance, find themselves obstructed by officials in some parts of the Horn and in many cases they are deliberately targeted by armed groups.
"Security is a major complication in responding to the needs of affected people in many parts of the Horn at this time," continued Engebak, underlining the difficulties of lack of access, along with the soaring cost of food grains and cereals worldwide.
Engebak added that foodstuff prices had risen by as much as 200 per cent over the past eight months in some of the worst drought affected countries, putting the option of purchasing grains out of the reach of many families.
The high prices are also making it difficult for relief organizations to purchase the amounts of grains and cereals needed to respond to the emergency.
The rising price of fuel (up between 300 and 1,000 per cent in Somalia for example) threatens food and water deliveries, even when people are in secure enough situations to be reached.
He further noted that, in Ethiopia, new estimates should be expected and speculations were that the numbers would surge from the 4.6 million. There are now 75,000 children in Ethiopia in need of therapeutic feeding.
Engebak added that Supplies of Plumpy Nut, the very effective nutritional supplement for managing acute malnutrition in children, manufactured in Ethiopia were not enough to meet the needs.
In a bid to save the situation, UNICEF is helping procure supplies internationally, but additional funds are required until the end of the year for those imports.
The UN estimates it needs approximately US$ 10 million to ensure appropriate security in Somalia.
In October 2008, UNICEF will carry out a child health campaign, with the aim of reaching 1.5 million children under the age of five with measles vaccinations, vitamin A supplements and other health measures.
The goal is to stem the rising child death toll in the deteriorating situation.
In Kenya, an estimated 1.34 million are affected by food insecurity, about 840,0 00 of those in the arid and semi-arid pastoralist areas and the others displaced during the violent political crisis early in the year.
Over 95,000 children under the age of five and pregnant and breastfeeding women in the drought-ravaged areas of northern and eastern Kenya are malnourished, wit h 10,000 of that number severely affected.
"Reports of children dropping out of school and girls entering prostitution to e arn money for their families are increasing", said Engebak.
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