Over 50 million people in Eastern Africa will face acute food insecurity this year, according to a new study backed by the World Food Programme (WFP) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Issued by the region’s Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, the IGAD Regional Focus on Food Crises report sounds the alarm over escalating food insecurity and malnutrition in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan.
“The current food security situation across the Horn of Africa is dire after four consecutive rainy seasons have failed, a climatic event not seen in at least 40 years, or since the beginning of the satellite era,” said Chimimba David Phiri, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Eastern Africa.
“Now more than ever, we must implement short-term livelihood-saving responses with long-term resilience building aimed at addressing the root causes of food crises in our region”.
© UNFPA Ethiopia/Paula Seijo
Climate shocks and extreme weather are fuelling mass displacement and driving up humanitarian needs across the Horn of Africa.
Danger level high
This year, about 300,000 people in Somalia and South Sudan are projected to face the highest level of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification scale – level 5, meaning an extreme lack of food – with the risk of famine occurring in eight areas of Somalia, should widespread crop and livestock production fail.
The 2022 situation marks a dramatic increase from last year, when 42 million people suffered from high levels of acute food insecurity.
In 2021, the IGAD region accounted for nearly 22 per cent of the global number of people in crisis or worse (IPC Phase 3 or above), with an estimated 10 million children under five, suffering from acute malnutrition.
In addition, 24 per cent of the world’s 51 million internally displaced were also in IGAD countries, mainly Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan.
Facing multiple shocks
A combination of climate extremes, conflict, and macroeconomic challenges are making multiple shocks nearly impossible to cope with.
Climate change and La Niña have caused an unprecedented multi-season drought, punctuated by one of the worst March-to-May rainy seasons in 70 years.
“Conflict, climate extremes, economic shocks, rising costs and now the impact of the conflict in Ukraine on food and energy prices are pushing millions towards starvation in Eastern Africa,” said Michael Dunford, WFP Regional Director for Eastern Africa.
Acknowledging that there is “a very real risk of famine” in the region, he underscored the importance of preparing for and responding to future shocks, which he said are “increasingly inevitable because of a changing climate”.
UN steps up support in Uganda
Meanwhile, the UN team in Uganda is working closely with authorities and other partners to scale up the response to food insecurity, which is currently impacting more than half a million people in the country’s northeast.
More than 40 per cent of the population in this area has been facing high levels of acute food insecurity in the last five months, in part due to a climate change-induced drought.
WFP has mobilized $7.4 million of the nearly $19 million required, preparing to assist a total of 217,000 people with feeding programmes in three prioritized districts.
The UN agency is also providing rations for families with malnourished children and pregnant and nursing women in six districts as it continues to deliver treatment for those with acute malnutrition in all districts.
To respond to the health impacts of drought, the World Health Organization (WHO) has mobilized over $2.4 million to support Ugandans.
Led by Resident Coordinator Susan Namondo, the UN team is also collaborating with authorities on a roadmap that better prepares the most affected region of Karamoja to respond to shocks, including through early warning systems.
Elliot is an award-winning journalist passionate about international affairs and humanitarian causes. Elliot has covered stories from conflict zones and areas devastated by disasters, highlighting critical global issues.
It’s heartbreaking to read about the worsening food insecurity in Eastern Africa. The situation demands urgent attention and coordinated efforts from international organizations and local authorities to prevent a humanitarian crisis.
Will the study provide specific recommendations on how to address the root causes of food crises in Eastern Africa?
The study is expected to offer detailed recommendations on tackling the underlying factors contributing to food crises in Eastern Africa, emphasizing the importance of both immediate interventions and long-term strategies for building resilience in the region.
It is heartbreaking to see the escalating food insecurity in East Africa. The report backed by the UN highlights a dire situation, and it is crucial that immediate actions are taken to address the root causes of these crises.
How are organizations like the WFP and FAO planning to address the escalating food insecurity in Eastern Africa?
Organizations such as the WFP and FAO are working tirelessly to address the escalating food insecurity in Eastern Africa by implementing short-term livelihood-saving responses and long-term resilience-building strategies. It is crucial to tackle the root causes of food crises in the region, especially in light of the dire food security situation following consecutive failed rainy seasons.
It is truly disheartening to hear that over 50 million people in Eastern Africa will face acute food insecurity this year. The study backed by the World Food Programme (WFP) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) signals a dire situation that needs urgent attention. The escalating food insecurity and malnutrition in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan, as highlighted in the IGAD Regional Focus on Food Crises report, require immediate action and sustainable solutions from both local and international efforts.
Will the study provide any specific recommendations on how to address the root causes of food crises in East Africa?
Yes, the study highlights the importance of implementing both short-term livelihood-saving responses and long-term resilience building measures to tackle the root causes of food crises in East Africa.
It is heartbreaking to hear that over 50 million people in Eastern Africa will be facing acute food insecurity this year. The situation described in the report is truly alarming, and urgent action is needed to address the root causes of these food crises in the region.
Do you think the study provides any recommendations for addressing the root causes of food crises in Eastern Africa?
As a concerned individual, I find it alarming that over 50 million people in Eastern Africa will face acute food insecurity this year, as highlighted in the study supported by the World Food Programme and Food and Agriculture Organization. The situation described by the IGAD Regional Focus on Food Crises report demands immediate action to address escalating food insecurity and malnutrition in the region. Climate shocks and extreme weather exacerbating these challenges underline the urgent need for both short-term interventions and long-term resilience-building efforts. It is crucial to tackle the root causes of food crises in Eastern Africa to ensure sustainable solutions for the vulnerable populations in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan.
As a concerned citizen, it’s heartbreaking to see that over 50 million people in Eastern Africa are facing acute food insecurity this year. The situation in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan sounds alarming, especially with the failure of four consecutive rainy seasons. It is crucial to focus on implementing both short-term responses and long-term resilience-building strategies to address the root causes of these food crises in the region.