Approximately 36.4 million individuals in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia urgently require humanitarian aid due to the ongoing crisis in the Horn of Africa. Severe drought, the worst the region has faced in 40 years, has resulted from five consecutive failed rainy seasons, leading to widespread hunger. The situation is predicted to worsen as the upcoming rainy season, commencing in March 2023, is also anticipated to be unsuccessful.

How did it get so bad?

The Horn of Africa crisis is an example of what happens when early warning signs are ignored and ongoing emergencies remain unresolved. For many in this region, the latest droughts are just one of several issues that, taken together, have decimated crops, livestock, incomes, and food security. For decades, Somalia has faced a cycle of crisis that touches on violence, displacement, hunger, and climate change.  A lack of response from the international community has left the current emergencies across these three countries under-funded.

“Sadly, we have now reached a point where what will shock us or get our attention are images of emaciated babies and animal carcasses,” says Amina Abdulla, Concern’s Regional Director for the Horn of Africa. “And that — I am sorry to say — is utterly repugnant.”

What's being done

Concern Worldwide, an organization that provides various services, has successfully provided assistance to 2.5 million individuals in the Horn of Africa. In particular, over 100,000 children received support through nutrition interventions as part of the organization's emergency response to the drought. In April 2022, the organization decided to expand its operations to reach an additional 1.5 million people in the affected region.

To ensure the long-term recovery of the region, Concern Worldwide's country teams in Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia, as well as neighboring countries such as Sudan and South Sudan, are planning a recovery response for the years 2022 and 2023. The aim is to protect the lives and assets of the affected communities and help them prepare for the next rainy season in April 2023. This response plan is an essential step in mitigating the impact of droughts and ensuring that communities in the region can withstand future natural disasters.