Thousands of families have been displaced due to recent climate change and droughts in Ethiopia's Somali regions.
© UNHCR/Eugene Sibomana

Horn of Africa Food Crisis

The Horn of Africa is experiencing the longest and most severe drought on record. Help UNHCR provide safe shelter, cash assistance and life-saving aid to drought-stricken communities.

“We have never seen drought like this, it has affected everyone. We have named it 'the unseen'.”

Ardo, internally displaced farmer in Ethiopia

People in the Horn of Africa are experiencing the longest and most severe drought on record.

This crisis is threatening the lives of millions of refugees, internally displaced people and host communities across Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya, pushing them closer towards famine. 

Water sources have dried up, crops and livestock have died, and people are being forced to leave their homes in search of water and food, or to flee escalating conflict over scarce resources. The crisis has been intensified by soaring food prices, driven by the war in Ukraine.

“People tell us they have not eaten for a couple of weeks. They are arriving in areas like the Somali region of Ethiopia where there is nothing. The response needs to be now. We don’t need to wait for famine to be declared.“ – Olga Sarrado, UN global spokesperson

“In previous droughts, we would move to nearby towns and go back when the rains come, but this drought is the worst we have ever seen. We walked for eight days to reach here." - Shamsa, Somali refugee in Kenya

UNHCR is providing families with safe shelter, cash assistance and other life-saving aid.

Shamsa Amina Ali with one of her children
© UNHCR/Charity Nzomo

Ardo, a mother of four, walked a dangerous and exhausting 260 kilometres from her village in the Eastern Somali region of Ethiopia in search of water and pasture for her livestock.

"I can't count the number of people that were displaced with us," she said. "Nearly everyone in the village had left. It was such a long journey... our cattle suffered horribly. No one was willing to buy our livestock since they were extremely weak.”

Please donate now and help UNHCR provide safe shelter, cash assistance and life-saving aid to drought-stricken communities.

Cash Assistance

Your gift can provide cash assistance to help families buy food, medicine and other essential items.

Shelter

Your gift can provide safe shelter for displaced families.

Essential Items

Your gift can provide essential items like mattresses, solar lamps, blankets and kitchenware.

"I used to have 445 goats and sheep, but now I only have 190 as the rest have died."

Abdullahi, a 55-year-old farmer, had to leave his family to seek water and pasture for his livestock.

Thousands of families have been displaced due to recent climate change and droughts in Ethiopia's Somali regions.
© UNHCR/Eugene Sibomana

Our fundraising commitment

The majority of funds raised by Australia for UNHCR are directed to UNHCR’s emergency operations, providing the ready funds and resources to respond quickly and effectively in situations of crisis and disaster.

75%
Humanitarian programs
14%
Admin
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Fundraising