This archive report was first published on 26 July 2019.
East Africa is on the brink of a devastating famine, with over 15 million people struggling to access basic necessities like food and water in Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia.
According to British charity Oxfam, consecutive poor rainy seasons have destroyed crops and left reservoirs and rivers dry, exacerbating the crisis.
As of 2019, more than 8 million people in Ethiopia, 5 million in Somalia, and 1.5 million in Kenya are affected by the drought, with the situation expected to worsen unless immediate action is taken.
‘We cannot wait until images of malnourished people and dead animals fill our television screens. We need to act now to avert disaster,’ said Oxfam’s regional director for the Horn of Africa, Lydia Zigomo.
‘Once again, it is the poorest and most vulnerable who are bearing the brunt of this crisis,’ she added.
UNHCR and humanitarian partners have also warned of a worsening crisis in Somalia, where over a million people have been forced to leave their homes following the failure of the last two rainy seasons.
‘UNHCR and humanitarian partners fear that severe climatic conditions combined with armed conflict and protracted displacement could push the country into a far bigger humanitarian emergency,’ said UNHCR spokesman Babar Baloch.
Donors, including the United States, Britain, and the European Commission, provided almost 75% of the $1.8 billion needed to avert a famine in 2017, but only 35% of the $2.4 billion required for the current crisis has been met.
Local aid agencies in Somalia are struggling to support drought-hit communities with limited resources, with Save Somali Women and Children’s deputy director, Halima Adan, stating, ‘We are face-to-face with this crisis every day and scraping together all possible resources to ensure the best possible response.’
‘Without enough funds and the right kind of support, our hands are tied,’ she added.
