By Elizabeth Elenwo-Roger | Project Officer
Oxfam and our partners have continued delivering life-saving support to communities across Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan as drought, conflict and displacement drive rising humanitarian needs across the region.
Together, we have reached 1.24 million people across four countries with clean water, rapid cash assistance, sanitation services and protection support, helping families meet immediate needs while strengthening their resilience to future climate shocks.
In Somalia, where the number of people facing hunger has nearly doubled since early 2025, rising to 6.5 million, Oxfam and the Somali Resilience Programme are working to restore access to safe water for communities where the cost of water has increased by more than 2000%, with families now paying between $1 and $1.50 for a single jerrycan compared to just $0.06 a year ago. As traditional water sources dry up, this support is helping families stay healthy, reducing the distances women and girls must travel to collect water, and lowering the risk of further disease outbreaks.
In Kenya, Oxfam's partner WASDA is providing cash transfers directly to people's mobile phones, giving families the flexibility to purchase food, water and other essentials according to their own priorities. Over 1,700 families have received support in Wajir County, helping communities cope with rising prices and the loss of livelihoods caused by poor rainfall. A recipient of the WASDA cash scheme in Wajir says: "I have been receiving the cash for a while now. With the cash, I am able to buy groceries and feed my children."
In Ethiopia, Oxfam and local partners including the Relief Society of Tigray (REST) and Mums for Mums are providing clean water, sanitation facilities, hygiene kits and cash assistance to communities affected by drought and displacement. At the same time, programmes supporting climate adaptation are helping farmers build more resilient livelihoods in the face of increasingly unpredictable weather, including in regions where crop losses of up to 54% have been recorded due to massive reductions in rainfall.
In South Sudan, where conflict continues to force families from their homes, Oxfam and partner LM International are supporting women and girls with cash assistance, dignity kits, menstrual hygiene supplies and solar-powered flashlights. These interventions help women maintain their safety, dignity and independence during periods of displacement and uncertainty.
The challenges facing East Africa remain immense. Across Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia, nearly 26 million people are experiencing extreme hunger following another failed rainy season, while 58 million people across the region lack access to clean drinking water. In South Sudan, conflict and displacement continue to deepen humanitarian needs, particularly for women and children.
Yet with support from donors like you, Oxfam and our partners continue to provide practical, life-saving assistance to communities facing some of the world's most complex crises. Thank you for helping families access clean water, protect their livelihoods and build a more secure future.
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