The recent drought in the Horn of Africa was the area’s longest drought in history (2020–2023). Excessive rain and flash flooding followed it, and the conflict in Sudan is making recovery more difficult. Organizations such as the World Food Programme (WFP) are working in these regions to provide aid, but are struggling to keep up with the need due to lack of funding.

At the end of 2022, the WFP was providing food for more than 4.7 million Somalis, but low funding forced the organization to cut back to feeding only 3 million people in April 2023. A lack of funds will cause this number to decrease even further.

“Without sustainable funding for both emergency and climate-adaptation solutions, the next climate crisis could bring the region to the brink of famine,” said WFP’s regional director for Eastern Africa, Michael Dunford. 

The Longest Drought in History

Generally, the Horn of Africa experiences two rainy seasons: Oct.–Dec. and March–May, but the region has had five consecutive dry seasons from 2020 to 2023. This has been the longest and most severe recorded drought in the area’s history. This has left residents of the area food insecure. In fact, more than 21 million people are dealing with food insecurity, and more than 3 million of those people are facing emergency levels of food insecurity. This means they regularly go without food for a day or more at a time.

WFP reporter, Tomson Phiri, met a bright 14-year-old boy whose family the drought has impacted. Ali (not the boy’s real name) graduated from primary school, but can no longer progress to secondary school. His family lost an entire herd of livestock and has nothing left to sell in order to fund Ali’s education. More than 13 million livestock died during the drought in the Horn of Africa.

In 2022, the WFP was calling for $327 million to keep up with the level of starving individuals. Now, $810 million is essential to provide the correct amount of support.

Rain and Flash Floods

Beginning in March 2023, the region got its first taste of moisture in three years as heavy rains and flash floods hit. Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya were receiving significantly more rain than they normally would during that time of the year. Although, March–May generally provides the Horn of Africa with 60% of its total annual rainfall. For example, Ethiopia received between 2 and 4 inches more rain within the first 25 days of March than it normally would. Despite providing the area with much-needed water, the floods killed dozens and negatively affected 300,000 people in both Ethiopia and Somalia. 

The Maluak family living in South Sudan lost their grass-thatched house during flooding. “The floods started when we had cultivated some vegetables and swept everything away,” said Gabriel Maluak to a Medium reporter. “Our grass-thatched house was floating in water; we had no place to put our heads.”

Maluak and his family had no option except to live in an internally displaced persons camp in Sudan. 

Conflict in Sudan

Current conflicts in Sudan are causing food and energy prices to skyrocket throughout the entire region — thus, further perpetuating the food crisis that the drought caused in the Horn of Africa. 

The WFP has provided assistance to four Sudanese states — more than 384,000 people. However, the conflict has caused major security concerns for the organization. Three employees of the WFP and four staff from a partner organization died in the fighting, and this forced the WFP to briefly halt their operations in Sudan. 

Drought, flash floods and conflict are plaguing the Horn of Africa, causing millions to face serious food insecurity. Though the WFP has aided millions so far, their financial standing is not allowing them to keep up with the need. In the last year, the funding that the organization is calling for has more than doubled. 

Help from organizations such as the WFP provides hope for famine prevention and change within the region. 

– Taylor Barbadora
Photo: Flickr