East Africa Drought - Humanitarian Response - FAO 2019

June 2019 - Two years after the 2016-2017 drought brought Somalia and parts of Ethiopia to the brink of famine severe climatic conditions are again pushing the Horn of Africa towards a major humanitarian emergency. Currently an estimated 11.4 million people are facing acute food insecurity due to drought or displacement in Ethiopia Kenya Somalia and Uganda. Without immediate humanitarian action it is estimated that as many as 17 million people across the region could be acutely food insecure as soon as August. With support from GAC and other international donors the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is protecting the livelihoods of nearly 1.9 million vulnerable drought-affected households in Ethiopia Kenya Somalia and Uganda. Project activities include: (1) providing cash-for-work and other income-generation opportunities to allow families to meet their basic needs without resorting to negative coping strategies which can include early and child marriage or sex work; and (2) protecting vital livestock assets through the provision of feed water and medicine as well as efforts to cull herds where needed.

Expected results for this project include: (1) decreased levels of food insecurity amongst drought-affected households; (2) increased ability of households to meet their basic needs without resorting to negative coping strategies; and (3) the preservation of vital household productive assets including livestock. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.