Fighting famine in East and Central Africa
Millions of people across Africa are facing a severe food crisis. The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is responding to bring life-saving support to the most vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities.
Since the end of 2016, the African continent is facing an unprecedented rise in food insecurity. Millions of people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, particularly where consecutively poor rainfall, rising food prices and insecurity continues to worsen the situation. At no other time in recent history has severe hunger and starvation loomed so large.
The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement response builds on its efforts to improve resilience and provide social protection. Our presence in thousands of communities across the region allows us to offer vital support where it is most needed.
Download regional response PDF
Red Cross is supporting some of the most remote and vulnerable communities, impacted by disaster and conflict, including those internally displaced, returnees, host families, women, children and the elderly.
“Mama Federation!” A Red Cross staff member calls out to Cesarina Ayo as she enters the IFRC office in Juba, South Sudan. The staff member is met with Ayo’s warm, bright smile and an outreached hand. Ayo never thought she would be working for one organ …
Hadiza's story, NigeriaYears of conflict and poor rainfall in north east Nigeria has left 5.2 million people in need of food. Here’s how cash grants are helping Hadiza and other families get back on their feet.Geplaatst door International Federati …
Press releases on the crises
Concurrent, killer cholera outbreaks in East Africa and Yemen are compounding famine risk in three countries, the Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) warned UN Member States today.
Kenya
Earlier this year, Kenya declared a national drought emergency, with 23 of its 47 counties currently affected. The number of people not getting enough or adequate food in the country has more than doubled – from 1.3 million to 2.7 million.
Somalia
A combination of pervasive insecurity, combined with recurrent drought and chronic underdevelopment has left millions of Somalis in need of urgent and sustained humanitarian assistance. Nearly three million people in the country are facing crisis.
