WHAT IS THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN THE HORN OF AFRICA?
Catastrophe is unfolding in the Horn of Africa. After four consecutive dry seasons in almost 2 years, more than 1.8 million children across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia are suffering from malnutrition. The continuous drought has killed crops and livestock and dried up water sources. The impact of the war in Ukraine has further devastated the region as broken supply chains have halted the import of 67% to 92% of wheat to the countries affected. With food prices rising across the world, many families can no longer afford the basic food they need to survive.
Climate emergencies are contributing to the issue. Droughts, fires and storms are worsening as the planet continues to warm. Important food and water systems will fail as they have in the Horn of Africa.
Children are once again paying the highest price. Three times as many children have died from malnutrition this year compared to all of 2021. Outbreaks of preventable diseases like cholera, measles and diarrhea have worsened, particularly among children who are malnourished.
The latest projections estimate that 20 million children are likely to face high levels of food insecurity and 2 million children are at risk of becoming severely malnourished without immediate support.
The crisis in the Horn of Africa has disastrous consequences for children. Please Donate Now.
HOW IS UNICEF RESPONDING TO THE CRISIS IN THE HORN OF AFRICA?
UNICEF is working across the region to support every child in need. In addition to being the largest provider of Plumpy’Nut® (Ready-to-use therapeutic food) globally, UNICEF is the leading UN agency in providing access to safe water, reliable sanitation and other life-saving services.
HOW YOUR DONATION WILL HELP
Urgent action is needed immediately to help save children’s lives. Your donation today will support UNICEF’s ongoing programs and response to the escalating food crisis in the Horn of Africa by providing communities with:
- Treatment for severe acute malnutrition through therapeutic food;
- Access to safe water and sanitation supplies;
- Infant and young child feeding counselling.
"UNICEF and other agencies have been repeatedly sounding the alarm bell on this crisis. We sincerely thank the donors who have made contributions – it is their support that has enabled us to respond the way we’ve been able to until now. But our appeal is still drastically underfunded – we have under a third of what we need this year."
UNICEF’s Deputy Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Rania Dagash