Merlin is working in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia (where Merlin is the only health agency). Offering nutrition, health care and water and sanitation to rural and pastoralist communities, benefiting over 1.7million people, thousands of them children under 5 years old. Continuing to monitor and assess new areas of need with plans to increase the numbers cared for over the next few weeks.

The worst drought in 60 years has left more than 12.5 million people in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya at risk of severe food and water shortages. Our field teams have reported that the number of malnourished children is rising. Mercy Corps experts with deep experience in humanitarian relief have said this is one of the worst situations they have seen. Your donation will help us ramp up our work in hard-hit Ethiopia and Somalia, and emergency operations in Kenya and help people survive.

More than 13 million people are affected by the drought in the Horn of Africa. Nearly half of the children in Somalia are malnourished. World Concern is providing emergency food, water and supplies to the most vulnerable, underserved families affected by this crisis.

11 million lives are at risk due to the worst drought to hit the Horn of Africa in 60 years. Relief International's team is providing food and nutritional supplements to needy families and malnourished children.

Described as "the worst humanitarian disaster in the world" by the UN Refugee Agency, the famine in Somalia is estimated to affect nearly half the Somali population - 3.7 million people. Tens of thousands have died; the majority were children. They arrive at UNHCR camps exhausted, dehydrated and malnourished. Up to 50% of children suffer from severe malnutrition. They urgently need medicine, high-protein and high-energy food, clean water, shelter and other basic services.

The Horn of Africa is experiencing the worst drought in 60 years. UNICEF has confirmed that over 500,000 children are at risk of death, and the UN says that over 10 million people have been affected so far. This fund will provide immediate emergency disaster and long-term relief to the victims of the drought in Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, and Uganda.

In the Horn of Africa a combination of drought, conflict, and lack of humanitarian access has left 4 million people suffering, in desperate need of help and hundreds of thousands could perish in the coming months unless humanitarian assistance is allowed to flow freely. We are collectively struggling to reach as many people as possible that are in need. However, in order to overcome the current situation, we need to try to scale-up general food distribution.

The Merlin Response Team reacts immediately. We are medical experts on the frontline. Our teams need to have prepared emergency kits ready to use, for where ever and when ever there is an emergency. Please support Merlin and help us make sure we are always ready for action.