Famine continues to threaten four countries affected by conflict and climate shocks.
East African countries are being hit hard by ongoing conflicts, global inequality and surging food prices. Five years of drought followed by destructive heavy rains have affected Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. Five years of floods, conflict, and an influx of refugees have created humanitarian challenges in South Sudan.
These compounding crises have pushed 26 million vulnerable people into a profoundly alarming hunger crisis.
Two million people have been displaced due to the drought in the Horn of Africa. The drought has also devastated the lives and livelihoods of families struggling to raise crops and livestock. More than 13 million livestock have died, pushing millions into protracted and unrelenting poverty.
Heavy rain in late 2023 in parts of East Africa, with forecasts for more in the coming months, bring opportunities for growing crops, but families that rely on raising livestock will face challenges to rebuild their herds. And in areas prone to flooding, rain brings more risks.
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You can help people affected by the threat of famine in the East Africa hunger crisis.
People in East Africa are facing crisis levels of food insecurity
1.6 million
People in Somalia live near rivers likely to be affected by flooding due to intense rains in late 2023
43,000
People died in 2022 from drought in Somalia; half were children under age 5
How Oxfam is responding to the hunger crisis in East Africa
With the support of people like you, Oxfam is responding to the East Africa hunger crisis by partnering with local organizations to reach 1.24 million people across the four countries. Together, we're providing clean water and rapid flexible cash assistance matched with longer-term support to help communities be more resilient to the changing climate. We’re advocating for governments and others to respond to the immediate crisis with humanitarian assistance, while also investing in programs and services that fight inequality and help vulnerable people improve their lives over the long term and reduce their vulnerability to climate change.
PROVIDING CLEAN WATER, FOOD, AND CASH IN ETHIOPIA
Oxfam has supported 170,000 people in northern Ethiopia with clean water, food, and cash assistance in areas affected by conflict. We plan to reach 750,000 people in this region in the next year with emergency food packages, livelihoods assistance, clean water, sanitation, and hygiene kits.
We are also scaling up our work in the southern Somali region to respond to the effects of the drought that affected 13 million people. In late 2023, heavy rains near rivers have flooded communities already struggling to recover, displacing more than 176,000 households. Oxfam plans to reach 180,000 people in this region and will include support for small businesses, the vaccination and veterinary treatment of livestock, agricultural support, repairing water systems and wells (and distributing hygiene items like soap and menstrual products, and promoting good hygiene), and cash.
In northeast Kenya, a sustained drought has dried up water sources for people and livestock.
Khadija Farah/Oxfam
HELPING PEOPLE BUY FOOD, ESSENTIAL ITEMS IN KENYA
The government of Kenya has declared a national disaster due to drought. In 2020-2021, the country also saw the worst infestation of locusts in 70 years.
In late 2023, government authorities reported flooding displaced more than half a million people, and killed 174. More than18,000 hectares of farmland were affected by flooding.
Oxfam is working closely with a network of Kenyan humanitarian groups in the northern arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya, where we estimate 2.8 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. These partners are providing cash to help people buy food and other essential items. Working together, so far we have supported 300,988 people. In addition to distributing cash, we are repairing wells and other water systems, and promoting good hygiene to help people prevent diseases.
Ibaado Mohamed (left) manages three camps for displaced people in Somalia/Somaliland. She coordinates with protection teams established by Oxfam -- these are groups of women who visit camp residents to check on their health and well-being, and to give information and advice.
Petterik Wiggers / Oxfam Novib
FIGHTING FAMINE IN SOMALIA
Persistent drought since 2020 pushed 4.3 million people across the country into crisis levels of hunger. In late 2023, heavy rains have brought more suffering to displaced people seeking shelter in areas that flooded. Although recent rains are improving pasture for livestock and agricultural production, nearly one in five people in Somalia continue to face high levels of acute food insecurity.
Oxfam is working with local organizations, such as KAALO Aid and Development, to provide lifesaving water, sanitation, and health support. Together, we are drilling wells, distributing hygiene kits (to help protect communities from water-borne diseases), distributing cash, seeds, tools, and training farmers in small-scale greenhouse farming. Oxfam will also support the treatment and vaccination of livestock alongside the government’s Ministry of Livestock, as well as train community protection volunteers on gender-based violence issues -- including by distributing solar lamps to protect women and girls at night. Oxfam and our partners aim to reach 420,000 people in Somalia this year.
Five consecutive years of heavy rains and flooding is affecting 835,000 people across the northern parts of South Sudan.
Lake Tesfaw/Oxfam
Since April 2023, South Sudan has received 473,000 refugees and (and South Sudanese returnees) affected by the crisis in Sudan.
Oxfam and our partners are assisting people in five states and aim to reach 383,000 people with safe water, resources for sanitation and hygiene, cash grants for families to buy food and other essentials, and support for people to build their incomes, such as seeds, tools, and fishing kits.
Your support will help Oxfam and our partners provide cash, clean and safe water, and other assistance people urgently need in East Africa.
Your support can save lives
You can help people affected by the threat of famine in the East Africa hunger crisis.
What challenges are people facing in East Africa?
26.8 million
People in East Africa are facing crisis levels of food insecurity
1.6 million
People in Somalia live near rivers likely to be affected by flooding due to intense rains in late 2023
43,000
People died in 2022 from drought in Somalia; half were children under age 5