Global solidarity is urgently needed to help vulnerable people in the Horn of Africa survive a rapidly unfolding humanitarian catastrophe, driven by the longest and most severe drought in recent history, United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) said in a joined statement on Monday. As the drought is set to run well into 2023, aid organizations must prepare now to continue their life-saving work in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya in response to extremely high humanitarian needs through to next year.
Already, 20.9 million people are highly food insecure in the Horn of Africa countries, including 3.4 million people in emergency levels of acute food security in Kenya and Somalia and more than 300,000 people facing catastrophic hunger in Somalia. The organizations say significant increases in severe acute malnutrition admissions to nutrition treatment programs have been reported across the region. Overall, 7.46 million children under the age of five are estimated to face acute malnutrition, including 1.85 million facing its severe form. Increases in child deaths have also been observed.
According to the statement, some 23.8 million people in the Horn of Africa face daily household water insecurity. This increases their vulnerability to water-borne diseases, and forces women and children to travel long distances to fetch water, exposing them to heightened risks of violence and exploitation. Facing severely limited access to food, water, and other resources, 1.77 million people in the region have fled their homes, becoming internally displaced, and over 40,000 have sought refuge in neighboring countries since the beginning of 2022.
The situation in the Horn of Africa is currently deteriorating due to the poor start of the October – December rains, particularly in Kenya and southern Somalia. Meteorological agencies warn that the probability of continued below-average rains through the remainder of the season is high, resulting in an unprecedented fifth consecutive season of insufficient rains.
During the 2011 drought, 260,000 people died in Somalia, with the majority of deaths occurring before a famine was declared. The humanitarian organizations say the world should not allow a repeat of what occurred in 2011 and must act now before a famine is to be declared. The Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia drought response plans are only 50 percent funded despite the escalating needs, severely limiting humanitarian agencies’ capacities to respond. The UN agencies and NGOs say more funds are required immediately to save lives before it is too late.
Among the signatories are
- Famine Early Warning System Network
- Finn Church Aid
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
- Integrated Food Security Phase Classification
- Islamic Relief
- Mercy Corps
- UN Children's Fund
- UN High Commissioner for Refugees
- UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
- World Food Programme
- World Health Organization
- World Meteorological Organization
- World Vision
Further information
Full text: Immediate global action required to prevent Famine in the Horn of Africa, joint statement by UN agencies and non-governmental organizations, released November 7, 2022
https://reliefweb.int/attachments/9aa8040f-14fe-4ffe-9ced-c70d912b259c/Joint_Statement_on_the_Ongoing_Drought_in_the_Horn_of_Africa.pdf