East Africa
Prolonged drought across East Africa has led to a severe hunger crisis in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and South Sudan. Over 31 million people are now facing severe hunger because of the lack of food and are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
Even when rain does fall, the ground is so dry that it cannot absorb the water. More than 1,000 hectares of cropland have been swamped across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. Intense rainfall following extensive drought can, and has, washed away crops and topsoil. It also causes flash flooding that has led to people losing their lives.
Oxfam’s response
Oxfam is on the ground, reaching communities with life saving essentials. We are:
- Working with local partner organisations who provide emergency food distributions and and help families grow and sell their own food.
- Providing emergency water and sanitation facilities, to stop the spread of diseases like cholera and diarrhoea.
- Providing cash and vouchers so people can purchase the food they need to survive
- As always, once the immediate danger has passed, we work with local communities to rebuild lives and reduce the risk of future disasters. Our long-term programs tackle the factors that lead to conflict and disaster such as inequality, poverty and climate change.
