Drought crisis in the Horn of Africa + video: Somalia quick facts ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌







Dear friend,

As the Ukraine war continues to capture the world’s attention, another disaster is rapidly unfolding for families in the Horn of Africa. More than 13 million people in the region, which includes Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia, are waking up without food or water in an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

Due to climate change, the easternmost part of Africa has experienced three failed rainy seasons — and predictions indicate that a fourth consecutive failed rainy season is imminent. Water is depleted, crops have failed, and livestock has perished, leaving many without food, water, or a source of income. Women, particularly young girls, bear the brunt. With nothing to eat or sell in exchange for food, people are resorting to desperate measures such as fleeing their homes or giving their daughters away for marriage in exchange for dowry payments to alleviate financial pressures.

In Somalia alone, 2.9 million people have been displaced, and in the coming months, 1.4 million more will likely be forced to leave their homes searching for food and water. Watch this 1-minute video overview of the situation in Somalia ▸
Watch the video
Watch the video ▸
Climate-affected communities cannot afford to wait for one crisis to pass before preparing for the next. It’s crucial that we develop a new way of thinking and a long-term strategy for combating climate change’s effects.

While Mercy Corps addresses immediate needs such as cash, food, and water, we also work to prepare communities to survive future disasters in the long term. This is why we’re assisting in the protection of grazing lands and water sources, enhancing livestock health, and increasing people’s access to financial services by collaborating with microfinance institutions, to offer credit to women in particular.
Somalia
In Somalia, Mercy Corps is distributing water at camps for displaced families who were forced to leave their homes due to conflict and lack of resources.
Our world is inextricably linked — the Ukraine conflict has pushed up global food prices, particularly in East Africa, which heavily relies on key staples such as wheat from Ukraine and Russia.

The time to act is now — while we have the opportunity to save lives, avert mass starvation, and alleviate future shocks.

We are so proud of the work that we’ve done, and we appreciate your compassion. Together we will forge ahead to address urgent conflict and crises all over the world.

Sincerely,

Grace Ndungu
Africa Media and Communications Manager, Mercy Corps