EAST AFRICA HUNGER CRISIS
A deadly combination of conflict, climate change, and COVID-19 is endangering millions of people in four countries.
It’s time to act.
People in South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya are enduring severe hunger because of a deadly combination of factors: conflict, extreme weather — flooding in some countries, drought in others — and the economic fallout of COVID-19. The number of people experiencing extreme hunger across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia has more than doubled since last year – from over 10 million to more than 23 million today. Across parts of Somalia and Ethiopia, nearly half a million people are already facing famine-like conditions.
According to the United Nations, 350,000 Somali children may die by the summer if the international community does not tackle this escalating hunger crisis immediately. That’s the equivalent of more than half of the total population of County Antrim.
On top of this, the conflict in Ukraine is triggering a global food crisis, which is particularly impacting regions that were already facing severe hunger levels. East Africa imports 90% of its wheat from Ukraine and Russia. Global disruptions of the trade in food, cooking oil, and fertiliser are likely to create catastrophic new consequences as they push food and commodity prices beyond what East African governments can afford.
We are on the ground across East Africa and are calling for an immediate and radical mobilisation of international aid to prevent further destitution.
Sowda, a young mother-of-five, has seen her children cry from hunger during this crisis. Her baby daughter was diagnosed with malnutrition. The family has gone two days at a time without food. She is suffering through the worst drought East Africa has seen in decades.
What challenges are people facing in East Africa?
people need food aid in northern Ethiopia
%
of Somalia is experiencing severe drought, the result of the third failed rainy season in a row
people have been displaced by flooding in South Sudan since May 2021
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. We plan to reach 350,000 people in this region and will include support for small businesses, the vaccination and veterinary treatment of livestock, agricultural support, and cash-for-work projects.
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. Its government estimates that 2.8 million people are in urgent need of assistance. Oxfam is working closely with a network of Kenyan humanitarian groups that are providing cash to help people buy food and other essential items. Working together, so far we have distributed cash to 40,000 people. We are repairing wells and other water systems, and promoting good hygiene to help people prevent COVID-19 and other diseases in eight of the most hard-to-reach, and worst-affected, counties in the arid and semi-arid lands in northern Kenya.
SOMALIA
Most of Somalia is experiencing severe drought. Millions of people are displaced and 25% of the population is in need of food as the country faces the risk of famine, according to the United Nations. Oxfam is working with local organisations 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. Along with our partners, we plan to reach 420,000 people in Somalia this year.
SOUTH SUDAN
As many as 8.3 million people will face severe food insecurity by this summer as climate and economic shocks intensify. With our partners, we are supporting people in five states across South Sudan 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 supports for people to build their incomes, such as seeds, tools, and fishing kits.
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. We plan to reach 350,000 people in this region and will include support for small businesses, the vaccination and veterinary treatment of livestock, agricultural support, and cash-for-work projects.
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. Its government estimates that 2.8 million people are in urgent need of assistance. Oxfam is working closely with a network of Kenyan humanitarian groups that are providing cash to help people buy food and other essential items. Working together, so far we have distributed cash to 40,000 people. We are repairing wells and other water systems, and promoting good hygiene to help people prevent COVID-19 and other diseases in eight of the most hard-to-reach, and worst-affected, counties in the arid and semi-arid lands in northern Kenya.
SOMALIA
Most of Somalia is experiencing severe drought. Millions of people are displaced and 25% of the population is in need of food as the country faces the risk of famine, according to the United Nations. Oxfam is working with local organisations 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. Along with our partners, we plan to reach 420,000 people in Somalia this year.
SOUTH SUDAN
As many as 8.3 million people will face severe food insecurity by this summer as climate and economic shocks intensify. With our partners, we are supporting people in five states across South Sudan 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 supports for people to build their incomes, such as seeds, tools, and fishing kits.
It’s time to act. Please stand with people across East Africa facing catastrophic hunger.
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