Horn of Africa experiencing longest, severest drought on record, says UN report

Posted on 08 March 2023

The UN’s newest situation appeal discusses how people in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia are continuing to suffer from extreme drought, causing huge food insecurity. The data collected in January reveals that 1.75 million people have been internally displaced in Ethiopia and Somalia due to the crisis.

It has been reported that the trends occurring in the Horn of Africa are worse than they were during the 2011 famine, which was responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths. A sixth failed rainy season is being anticipated from March-May which will further exasperate the problem.

UNHCR is appealing for $137 million to provide much needed assistance to individuals in these countries. With more than half Somalia’s population requiring aid this year, and recent funding heavily diverted to Ukraine, an effective humanitarian response is crucial.