Drought

Key documentation and products developed by partners for supporting Community Engagement for Drought Response

Situation

The Horn of Africa is currently facing the fourth consecutive below-average rainfall season since late 2020 due to La Niña conditions, which is aggravating the current water crisis and ongoing drought in five countries. Up to 20 million people in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia will need water and food assistance until the end of 2022 due to drought, insecurity, conflict and economic challenges. Early climate forecasts suggest an increased probability of another below-average season between October and December 2022. (UNICEF, 6 Jun 2022)

Worsening drought conditions in southern Ethiopia, eastern and northern Kenya, and southern and central Somalia led to severe water and pasture shortages, livestock deaths, below-average harvests (65 percent in Somalia & 70 percent in marginal agricultural areas of Kenya), sharply increasing cereal and other staple food prices while also eroding household purchasing power. A fourth consecutive below-average rainfall season is highly likely during GU (March to May) rains complicating the situation … The risk of skyrocketing domestic food inflation remains high in six out of the ten Eastern Africa countries, four of which are already experiencing double-digit food inflation (13 percent in Somalia, 16 percent in Burundi, 42 percent in Ethiopia and 258 percent in Sudan). Sudan, Eritrea, and Djibouti are the highest at risk of increased and higher inflation because of the Ukraine’s war. (WFP, 5 May 2022)

Lesotho, 2019 @IFRC

Key Resources

Horn of Africa crisis: Public Health Situation Analysis, May 2022

WHO

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Countries in the greater Horn of Africa are facing one of the worst episodes of food insecurity seen in decades The Horn of Africa is experiencing one of its worst droughts in recent history, an estimated 15 to 20 million people are severely affected by the drought in Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia – more than 3, 5 and 7 million people in each country, respectively. These people are severely food insecure, with families are taking desperate measures to survive and so many leaving their homes in search of
food, water, and pasture.

The unprecedented impacts of multiple failed rainy seasons are threatening to create a humanitarian crisis in a region already negatively impacted by cumulative shocks, including conflict and insecurity, extreme weather conditions, climate change, desert locusts and the negative socioeconomic impacts
of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Horn of Africa drought crisis: climate change is here now, May 2022

UNICEF

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UNICEF is appealing for US$ 847 million to provide urgent life-saving and climate resilience support to 4.2 million people, half of them children, in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Eritrea, and Djibouti. Right now, 2 million children across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia are in need of treatment for severe acute malnutrition.

This is a humanitarian catastrophe. Children in the Horn of Africa (HoA) are experiencing the impacts of one of the worst climate-induced emergencies of the past 40 years, with the lowest levels of funding on record not allowing the humanitarian community to respond as needed. Urgent aid is needed to prevent parts of the region sliding into famine.

UNHCR DROUGHT RESPONSE EMERGENCY APPEAL FOR THE HORN OF AFRICA

UNHCR

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This appeal will cover critical humanitarian needs in refugee and IDP settlements until the end of the year including water, sanitation facilities, nutrition, healthcare and protection. It also seeks to provide cash assistance for those most vulnerable, enabling them to better meet their needs, and specific support for women, girls and children, including the provision of dignity kits and protective services from gender-based violence.

Resources

Data to Action Research Tools & Resources 

Understand the situation

Situation, Contextual Analysis

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Assessment

Rapid assessments, Infodemic insights

3

Coordination

Guidance, Strategy, Plan

4

Implementation

Community Engagement, Communication Content, Social Media

Learning

Prior conducted studies and resources from previous responses

Horn of Africa 2015 - 2022

Community Engagement resources  from Horn of Africa Response

Southern Africa 2018

Community Engagement resources  from Southern Africa Response

Knowledge Hub on Drought

Horn of Africa Resource Portal

CCEA messages and resources continuously updated and available for those working on the response compiled by CDAC Network

Social Science in action

Selected social science reports or briefs on Drought compiled by SSHAP