Food distribution in Ethiopia© CARE / Amber Meikle, 2008.

In spring 2008, deadly riots in Haiti, Africa, Asia and parts of Europe focused the world's attention on the emerging global food crisis.
Since then, the situation has worsened and is more concerning than ever, as revealed by the figures indicated below. 

CARE is working to bring urgently needed assistance to the most vulnerable in the Horn of Africa. To see the Food Insecurity Crisis map of the Horn of Africa (provided by courtesy of the ReliefWeb Map Centre, UNOCHA), please click here.

Somalia

The United Nations estimates that 40 per cent of the total Somali population – an increase of 77 percent since January 2008 – are currently in desperate need of humanitarian assistance; by December, it is expected to affect nearly 50 percent of the population. This is due to a combination of factors including prolonged conflict, and rising global food and fuel prices. Without large-scale intervention by humanitarian organisations over the coming months, parts of the country risk disaster similar to the famine years of 1992-1993. Escalating conflict is making it more difficult to deliver aid to those in need.

Population: 7.4 million
People needing food aid: 3.2 million
CARE’s response: CARE is one of the largest aid agencies working in south-central Somalia, and is providing assistance to nearly one million people – one-third of those in need.

Ethiopia

Southern, central, western and north-eastern Ethiopia are in the grip of a severe drought. Crop production is decreasing, families are selling their meagre assets to buy food, and livestock are dying in the worst-affected areas. More than 6.4 million people are in need of food assistance, and the numbers are climbing daily.

Population: 77 million
People needing food aid: 6.4 million
CARE’s response: CARE is reaching 776,300 people with emergency assistance, including food and water.

Kenya

The country faces an overall food deficit this year because of the post-election violence that disrupted production and fuel prices. Wholesale prices of main food commodities have risen more than 50 percent in key markets this year. Acute malnutrition among children under five has reached almost 30 percent in some parts of the Turkana district in the North.

Population: 34.3 million
People needing food aid: 1.4 million
CARE’s response: CARE is providing emergency assistance to 240,000 people in Somali refugee camps, poor communities and urban slums.

Sudan

Six years of conflict and mass displacement have left more than 4.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, making Darfur the biggest humanitarian operation in the world. During this year’s hungry season, 3.5 million people need food aid.

Population: 40.2 million
People needing food aid: 3.5 million
CARE’s response: CARE is providing emergency assistance such as safe drinking water, food and emergency supplies to 1.1 million people.