The Perfect Storm

Drought and Hunger Loom in East Africa

You can help!

Five consecutive years of drought have created a serious food crisis in multiple countries in East Africa. Constantly failing rains mean the situation has gotten worse and there are now severe water shortages in the region. Some regions have seen their water points drop by between 60% and 100%. This is not an ordinary drought - a crisis is in the midst.

The situation is exacerbated by ongoing conflict and political insecurities. Countries affected include Ethiopia, Somalia/Somaliland, Kenya, and South Sudan. Combined with rising food prices, the poor or failed rains in the region mean that already-vulnerable people will not be able to recover or rebuild their crops or herds for the fifth year in a row.

Conflict also continues to increase food insecurity, with the 20-year conflict in Somalia and the delayed but continuing impact of election disruptions in Kenya. Overall, approximately 20 million people are likely to need humanitarian assistance in the region.

Country by country:

Kenya is suffering its worst drought in 10 years, after four years of failed rains, according to the UN’s World Food Program. In Kenya, 10 million people are currently considered food insecure, with one-tenth of the population reliant on emergency food distributions. Malnutrition rates in some areas of the country are as high as 30.9 per cent – more than double the emergency threshold of 15 per cent.

Somalia is facing its worst crisis in more than a decade, with drought and spiralling food prices. An estimated 1.3 million people remain displaced by conflict. The number of vulnerable people in need of humanitarian assistance has increased to more than 3.25 million people since January 2008, representing approximately half the population.

In Ethiopia, it is estimated that 6.9 million people will need emergency food assistance until at least December 2009.

What are the current needs?

•  Water
•  Food
•  Health Services 

How you can help:

The members of the HUMANITARIAN COALITION – CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Québec and Save the Children Canada – have already launched programs throughout the region to support the vulnerable communities being affected.

You can help. Please support the emergency response through The HUMANITARIAN COALITION or through CARE’s Emergency Relief Fund. Your action today will save lives.