The worst hunger crisis in living memory

East Africa Hunger Crisis

Last updated: 18 August 2025

More than 28 million people across South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya are facing extreme hunger due to factors beyond their control – the climate crisis, conflict and the crippling cost of living.

Loliwe Phiri/Oxfam

We have experienced drought for over seven years. We've been surviving in this harsh environment with no water.”

Seinab, Isiolo County, Kenya

What's happening in East Africa?

World leaders have failed to do enough. People are losing their livelihoods, homes and family members to hunger.

Women and girls are among the worst affected. Mothers are missing meals so their children can eat. Girls will sacrifice their education to look after family whilst their parents are forced to search for food.

South Sudan

The conflict in Sudan has forced millions of people to flee to neighbouring countries, creating the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. This is deepening humanitarian needs and exacerbating food insecurity not only in Sudan but also in the wider central and eastern African region.

In South Sudan, the arrival of people fleeing Sudan’s conflict has put more pressure on already scarce resources, which is deepening local tensions and threatening the fragile peace South Sudan is struggling to maintain. Every day, hundreds of people arrive at transit centres in Renk, South Sudan to seek refuge.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya are facing the worst drought in history. More than 9 million people in Ethiopia need urgent humanitarian support because of extreme drought and conflict. Millions have seen their livelihood suffer across four southern drought-affected areas. The northern regions of Ethiopia are severely affected by conflict. Levels of malnutrition in children and lactating women are alarmingly high.

Somalia

90% of Somalia is experiencing severe drought conditions. The lack of access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation facilities has heightened the risks of water-borne diseases and gender-based violence. 6.7 million people (more than half of the population) are in need of humanitarian assistance. Approximately 1.8 million children are facing acute malnutrition.

Kenya

In Kenya, droughts, floods and disease outbreaks are becoming more frequent and intense, leaving little opportunity for affected communities to recover. An estimated 4.4 million people are facing severe hunger.

How is Oxfam responding in East Africa?

Partner organisations and communities are leading the response across East Africa – many of them small, grassroots organisations.

Please donate now to help them support communities facing extreme hunger.

Help us scale up our response in East Africa

Oxfam and partners are delivering life-saving support in several refugee camps with emergency food, clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education to hundreds of thousands of refugees, many of whom are women, children, and older people.

We are also working with communities to be more resilient to the changing climate, supporting on rehabilitation programs, and on sustainable and durable solutions for the future.

In South Sudan, Oxfam is responding to the impact of the conflict in Sudan. Together with our partners, we have been responding to the refugee crisis to deliver humanitarian aid to help people affected by the conflict.

In Renk, South Sudan, Oxfam has been providing emergency drinking water systems, hygiene facilities, food, cash assistance and hygiene kits to hundreds of thousands of people crossing the border from Sudan and seeking refuge in South Sudan.

To help improve security for women, we have been providing cash assistance, menstrual items, dignity kits and solar-powered flashlights.

In Ethiopia, ORDA Ethiopia is working in areas where people are displaced to provide clean water, showers, toilets, hygiene kits and money for essentials.

In Somalia, our partner, Somali Resilience Programme is offering training to help farmers adapt to a changing climate.

WASDA, in Wajir County, Kenya, is offering people money digitally transferred to their mobile phones, so they can buy what they need.

Photo credit: Billy Owiti/Oxfam

I have been receiving the cash for a while now… With the cash, I am able to buy groceries and feed my children.”

Ebla, part of the WASDA cash scheme in Wajir, Kenya

What's the bigger picture?

90 %

of Somalia is in severe drought. More than 670,000 people have been forced to leave their homes in search of food and water.

4.4 million

people in Kenya are experiencing extreme hunger and need humanitarian help.

9.4 million

people in Ethiopia need urgent humanitarian support due to impacts of extreme drought and conflict.

How we spend your donation

For every £1 you donate to this emergency appeal, we will allocate 9p of your donation to cover general support and running costs. There is a small chance that we will raise more money than is needed for this appeal. If this happens, we’ll spend any additional funds on other Oxfam projects – wherever the need is greatest.