East Africa Drought and Famine Relief:
What's Happening and How to Help

Civil war, drought, and economic instability have led to a recently declared famine in South Sudan, where nearly 5 million people face extreme food shortages. Severe drought conditions across the region have also led to food crises in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Yemen. The projects below, as part of GlobalGiving's East Africa Drought and Famine Relief Fund, will provide emergency funding to international and locally driven relief efforts, providing food, medicine, and other essential supplies to address regional food crises.

Give Now

We believe that organizations that are deeply rooted in local communities are often in the best position to provide long-term support for disaster victims. By funding the relief efforts of local organizations, donations to this fund have the potential to build stronger disaster-response capacity so that these organizations are better equipped to face future disasters. GlobalGiving will post reports about how funds have been used and will email these reports to donors and subscribers.

Projects supported by the East Africa Drought and Famine Relief Fund

Oxfam Dangerous Delays: East Africa Acute Hunger

by Oxfam GB

As of May 2022, 28 million people across East Africa - especially Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia and South Sudan are facing critical hunger, this figure is set to rise. For the fourth consecutive season, due to climate change the rains have failed again. This terrible drought, coupled with war in Ukraine, means that food supplies have never been so decimated. It is estimated that at present one person is dying every 48 seconds from hunger in the region.

Give

Gardens Give Hope, Health, and Income in E. Africa

by Seed Programs International

This project will increase long-term resilience to climate change, social crisis, and political crisis, for communities in East Africa who are most vulnerable to upheaval. We do this by investing in indigenous East African leadership to deliver training and resources: installation of simple, appropriate drought-resistant technology such as water storage, shade nets, and ecological small garden design; and connection of people to good seed, including local seed sources in their region.

Give

Build 152 Resilient Villages in Horn of Africa

by Horn of Africa Development Initiative - HODI

The project will provide cash transfers and asset creation for 250 Households @45$ as those affected by ongoing drought in Northern Kenya. A vast majority of the communities have lost capacity to cope with drought due to climate change literally losing their livelihoods. Food crops production was low associated with late land preparation while nomadic herders have lost their entire livestock. Marsabit Long rains assessment puts the number of households in need of food intervention is 291,000.

Give

Food Baskets for Households in Kenya!

by Makindu Children's Program

Drought continues in eastern rural Kenya, famine is worsening, the food crisis is extreme. Makindu is located in the semi-arid zone, the worst affected area as annual rainfall is barely a trace. Most people eat just one meager meal a day, if at all. Hungry children do not attend school. Weakened, malnourished children die from treatable illnesses. Makindu Children's Program delivers bulk food baskets to the neediest children and households, providing them a lifeline of nutrition and saving lives

Give

Special Appeal for children displaced by drought

by Child Rescue Kenya

The effects of drought and related conflict over limited resources in Baringo County, Kenya, are being felt in Kitale. CRK are working with an increased number of children on the street. The new arrivals are coming in from neighbouring counties as the drought situation worsens. We aim to welcome these children through our Street Smart Centre, build trust and secure a safe place for them at Birunda Rescue Centre while we identify and work with their families and reintegrate them back home.

Give

East Africa Hunger Crisis: Concern's Response

by Concern Worldwide US

Famine has been officially declared in South Sudan, and drought conditions throughout the region have also led to food crises in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia where 19.5 million people face severe food insecurity. Concern Worldwide is one of few NGOs in the hardest to reach areas in the region. Our experienced team is currently reaching 1.8 million people through life-saving cash transfers, improved access to clean water, treatment of malnourished children, and preventative health and nutrition.

Give

Fight famine with farming in South Sudan

by Alaska Sudan Medical Project

Famine and severe hunger are ravaging South Sudan. 60% of the population faces hunger. Most people don't know where their next meal will come from. We are working to help families in Fangak County, who are in desperate need of food, start small gardens and farms so that they can feed themselves while increasing the the amount of food available to the community. This program will teach farming techniques, providing seeds and small tools, and micro loans for water pumps all to fight famine.

Give

RI: Protecting Yemen's Children from Famine

by Relief International

Roughly 10 million Yemenis are on the brink of famine. RI provides nutritional assistance and education sessions to combat the effects of famine to more than 23,000 people in Yemen.

Give

Act Now to Prevent Famine in Kenya & Somaliland

by Health Poverty Action

We are reopening this project for the second time as severe drought continues to cause devastation and famine across eastern Africa. People, especially women and children, continue to die. Crop failures, deterioration of water sources, and loss of livestock have left much of the population in need of humanitarian assistance. Millions of people are currently facing severe shortages of food and water, and devastating effects on their health and livelihoods.

Give

Ethiopia: help for the drought affected

by Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe

Caused by the very strong El Nino weather phenomen the situation in Ethopia has worsened. In 2015 the rainfall during the short rainy season was reduced up to 90 percent. This year around ten million people are affected by famine . We are active in the country, as well in the Afar-Region. Our emergency aid reaches currently 3,000 pregnant and nursing mothers, 3,000 infants and additionally 1.422 families or 8,500 particularly needy people and their livestock.

Give