Situation in the Horn of Africa

More than 20 million people in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya are facing crises and the consequences of war and drought.

The third consecutive drought season in late 2021 resulted in significant crop and livestock losses in rural areas of southern and southeastern Ethiopia, Somalia, and eastern and northern Kenya. The fourth drought season is forecast for March 2022.

 More than 250,000 livestock death have occurred in areas in southern and southeastern Ethiopia, in addition to excessive livestock losses in Somalia and Kenya. The remaining cattle are in poor condition, making it impossible for households to access milk and dairy products until at least mid-2022.

The purchasing ability of households is declining sharply, due to the sharp rise in food prices, the loss of livestock assets, and the decline in limited income from the sale of milk and agricultural products. Large-scale food emergency assistance is needed to prevent food shortages, rising levels of acute malnutrition and starvation-related deaths, and poverty, leading to displacement.

Extremely high prices for food, fuel and water significantly affect household purchasing capacity and further contribute to the crisis and its devastating consequences in the region.

Sudan and Ethiopia are experiencing the worst crises, with grain prices rising three to five times higher than usual in December. Rising grain prices and declining livestock prices have led to sharp decline in incomes in Somalia and Kenya.

While recent conflicts and droughts are major factors, macroeconomic challenges, declining international budget support, and rising global food prices indicate that households will not have access to food throughout East Africa through 2022.

 

_{Source and Credit: UNHCR, WFP, UN}