Horn of Africa Crisis Continues

Millions are still in need of food, water and assistance

Maria Abdi

In July 2011, famine was declared in parts of Southern Somalia. The Horn of Africa experienced a massive humanitarian crisis, affecting more than 13 million people. Thousands fled their homes in search of food, water and safety. Many died along the way.

Sadly, media attention has shifted away from the crisis, as the situation remains critical. The crisis in the Horn of Africa is far from over. An estimated 2.5 million people in Somalia alone remain in crisis and need emergency aid. The situation remains severe. Hundreds of thousands of people are still displaced; many are living in camps and barely surviving. They need short and long-term assistance to recover.

We’re working to reach desperate families with food, water, medical attention and emergency supplies, but we need your help. Read one family’s story here.

Refugee camps are overflowing, despite many aid groups leaving. And thousands of people living outside the camps with no access to help.

The crisis is far from over. Please help us respond today. Donate here to help save lives.

How we’re helping save lives

A Somali refugee holds a voucher for food. World Concern is one of only a few international aid organizations to be able to work across the Kenya-Somalia border in southern Somalia – an area once inaccessible due to insecurity. We’re providing emergency food, water, medical assistance and supplies to thousands of people in strained host communities on both sides of the border.

With the support of our donors, we have brought water to border communities that previously had none. Since August, 75,000 people have received access to clean water. Here’s how we were able to get water flowing in one village where more than 2,000 refugees have arrived.

We’ve also distributed 30,000 vouchers, which are redeemed for a 2-week supply of rice, beans, sugar, oil and salt. Using the voucher system supports local economies and also provided supplies such as blankets, jerry cans, mosquito nets and cooking pots to families who were forced to leave all their belongings behind. Thousands are also receiving medical care for famine-related illnesses.

Please help us reach desperate families with life-saving water and food. Donate here.

Drought facts

The Horn of Africa, which includes countries such as Somalia and Kenya, experienced a food crisis in 2011 that left an estimated 13 million people dependent on humanitarian assistance.
As of May 2012, 2.5 million people in Somalia still require emergency assistance due to prolonged drought and conflict conditions.
Conditions have improved, largely because of the humanitarian response, but the crisis is far from over.
2.2 million people in Kenya remain in urgent need of life-saving assistance.
29,000 children died during the worst of the crisis.

Sources: U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and USAID.