We can’t look away now. Sign our petition. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌







Farmers watch as their crops wither. Children leave school to help support their families. There is nothing to sell or eat, so people grow sick with hunger. And still, the sun beats down overhead, and the temperatures continue to rise.

This is what it looks like to live through a food emergency.

The greater Horn of Africa, stretching from southern Ethiopia to northern Kenya and Somalia, is experiencing its worst drought in four decades, causing a food shortage of epic proportions. The number of people currently facing acute hunger, malnutrition, and thirst has grown to at least 18.4 million and could be as high as 20 million by September.

Elected leaders and humanitarians around the globe must take immediate action to avoid an even worse crisis. A well-informed and passionate community of advocates like you can help be a powerful driver of change, moving the needle for intervention.

Show solidarity with people most affected by climate change’s effects. Sign our petition urging Congress to increase long-term investments in climate adaptation funding.
Sign the petition ▸
Kheira walks across the cracked, dry earth near her farm in Kenya, where she used to be able to grow enough food to feed her family for months.
Droughts in the Horn of Africa are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change, causing more devastating, longer-term challenges. The additional ripple effect of increasing food and fuel prices from the war in Ukraine is making matters worse. People are doing everything they can to protect and provide for their families, but their options are running out.

Donors, governments, and humanitarian organizations must invest in social protection and system-strengthening initiatives to address food insecurity’s root causes, including conflict, poor governance, and climate change. That’s why Mercy Corps partners with people to create holistic, sustainable solutions that have the power to transform communities in the short and long term.

We won’t stop fighting for more urgent and longer-term interventions for the millions of people living through unrelenting drought and hunger in the Horn of Africa. We thank you for joining us in staying vigilant, passionate, and informed — and for signing our climate solutions petition. When you sign the petition, we’ll send a letter to Congress on your behalf.

We’ll continue to update you on this emergency as it unfolds.

Thank you,

Wairima Ndungu Wairima Ndungu
Mercy Corps Africa Media & Communications Manager

Wairima taps her 14 years of experience — and her passion for telling authentic, inspirational African stories — to provide strategic communications support to 19 country offices, while connecting newsmakers, donors, and policy makers to the information they need.