Slow Response to East Africa Hunger 'Cost Lives' Aid agencies say thousands of Africans died needlessly and millions of dollars were wasted because the international community did not respond to early warnings of an impending food crisis in East Africa. A report released Wednesday by Oxfam and Save the Children says that rich donor nations waited until the crisis was in full swing before donating money. A food shortage was predicted as early as August 2010, but most donors did not respond until famine was declared in parts of Somalia in July 2011. The report says the delays caused increased costs for aid agencies and thousands of deaths. The British government estimates that between 50,000 and 100,000 people have died from the famine, mostly in Somalia.