2022 in review: Africa Food Crisis

Communities across eastern Africa are facing hunger caused by one of the worst droughts in 40 years. Millions are facing the prospect of a catastrophic famine on an unimaginable scale. 

The war in Ukraine has further increased the cost of essential goods for vulnerable communities in Africa. Countries in the Horn of Africa like Somalia, Ethiopia and Sudan depend heavily on wheat imports from Russia and/or Ukraine. Ethiopia and Kenya also rely on fertiliser for over 80% of their crops.

Despite these challenges, the dedicated support of Caritas Australia supporters and donations to our Africa Food Crisis appeal means that thousands of families can receive urgent, life-saving food, clean water and cash distribution.

Thank you for your generous support. You have made a life-changing difference for families facing famine in Africa. 

Snapshot of your impact in 2022

i
Ayoyo is a volunteer complaints officer who supports her community in southern Ethiopia. Photo: Zacharias Abubeker/Caritas Australia

ETHIOPIA

In Ethiopia, urgent food aid, water and other essentials have been provided to more than 17,290 vulnerable people.

i
Marian and her eight-month-old daughter queuing at the Trócaire health outreach centre at an Internally Displaced Persons camp in Gedo district, southern Somalia. Trócaire is one of Caritas Australia’s partners. Photo: Miriam Donohue: Trócaire.

SOMALIA

Your generosity has helped our partner in Somalia, Trócaire, support 7,656 people in the drought-affected Gedo region.

i
Talaso is a mother of two living in Marsabit, northern Kenya. Photo: Thom Flint/CAFOD

KENYA

In Kenya, our partners CAFOD and Caritas Marsabit are responding to the food crisis by supporting more than 65,022 people with emergency food and other relief.

i
Johnson (70), who is blind, with his wife Elizabeth (69) in their field of failed crops on their homestead in Hwange district. Photo: Richard Wainwright/Caritas Australia

ZIMBABWE

More than 10,478 people in Zimbabwe's Hwange region received urgent humanitarian support as crops fail after another dry season. 

i
Ayoyo is a volunteer complaints officer who supports her community in southern Ethiopia. Photo: Zacharias Abubeker/Caritas Australia

"The drought has destroyed all of our crops and left us very hungry, we have nothing to eat. Before when I had my husband he could support me, but now as a widow I don’t have any support. Without Caritas, my children might have died."

Ayoyo, Community Complaints Volunteer living in Ethiopia

i
The current drought is the worst that Bute has ever experienced in his lifetime. Photo: Zacharias Abubeker/Caritas Australia

Donate now

I would like to give

can provide drought-resistant seeds for a family

Other amount

Can provide urgent support to families in need

Donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible

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 countries like Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Mozambique and Eritrea, through Caritas Australia’s local partners.

Where this is not possible, the funds will be used to provide immediate and longer-term development and 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 development needs and future crises across all our regions.