Millions across Africa facing extreme hunger
Drought and conflict have left record numbers of people in the Horn of Africa in urgent need of humanitarian aid.
We must act now.
Over 14 million people across Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya are already facing extreme hunger
More than 25 million people in the region will not have enough to eat by mid-2022
A humanitarian crisis looms as the worst drought in 40 years continues to grip the Horn of Africa.
After three consecutive years of poor rainfall, some of the worst locust plagues seen in decades, as well as ongoing conflict and displacement, millions of people are facing hunger and even starvation.
Now, with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and surging food prices due to the war in Ukraine, the crisis is rapidly escalating.
- Over 14 million people across Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya are already on the verge of starvation. If rainfall is still below average, this number will rise to 20 million by the middle of 2022.
- Between February and April this year, the number of children facing acute hunger, malnutrition and thirst increased to at least 10 million.
- The number of households without reliable access to clean and safe water is now at 10.5 million.
- Food prices were already on the rise and are now skyrocketing as the region relies heavily on imported grains and fertilisers from Ukraine and Russia - putting basics like bread out of reach for many families.
We must act now.
Your generous donation today means our partners in countries like Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan and Eritrea can respond quickly to support vulnerable communities during this crisis.
Make a Donation today
Our partners are on the ground in times of crisis, providing:
Emergency food rations
Safe, clean water
Emergency cash transfers
Refugee support
We’re working with our partners on the ground to bring vital aid to vulnerable families in the Horn of Africa:
- Food distributions to households at risk of malnutrition
- Support to children impacted by malnutrition
- Clean drinking water and support for sanitation
- Cash transfers to households at risk of poverty
- Hygiene supplies, including soap and hand sanitisers to help prevent the spread of COVID-19
- Seeds and household items for families impacted by conflict and displacement
Your generous donation today means our partners across Africa can respond quickly and efficiently to support vulnerable communities during this crisis.
Many families that have long struggled to grow enough to eat will soon find themselves with no food at all.
After three years of severe drought, crops are failing and livestock dying in droves. Families who previously relied on subsistence farming are no longer able to grow enough food to eat, let alone to sell at the markets so they can afford to buy seeds for the next season.
Even in the best case scenario with above average rains over the coming months, it will take months for communities to recover and as many as 11 million people would remain at risk of hunger until September 2022.
When disasters strike, the steep cost of imported medical and emergency supplies puts some of the most marginalised people at risk. We work with our partners on the ground to get food, clean water and first aid to communities as quickly as possible.
With your help, we can make sure that communities get the emergency supplies they need to survive, rebuild and recover from crises.
The funds raised through this appeal will be used to provide immediate and longer-term humanitarian assistance to communities affected by the food crisis in Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan and Eritrea, through Caritas Australia’s local partners.
Where this is not possible, the funds will be used to provide immediate and longer-term humanitarian assistance to communities affected by crises in Africa. If any excess funds remain after a crisis, or if there are changes in circumstances beyond our control that limit our ability to use the funds, they are kept in the Africa Regional Appeal so that we can respond to ongoing needs and future crises across all our regions.