Islamic Relief have launched an appeal to help support vulnerable families in the Horn of Africa, who are suffering from the effects of the worst drought in 70 years. Almost 20 million people in parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia have been affected.
This region has barely seen a drop of rain since 2020, the most recent rainy season was the driest in decades. Droughts have now become more frequent and intense, leading to critical water shortages and food prices spiralling out of control.
Millions of livestock have died, and people are fleeing drought-hit villages to try to find food and water. Families are walking in scorching summer heat to reach camps where they can get aid. Many young children, older people, and vulnerable people have died from hunger and thirst on these journeys.
In Somalia alone, more than 1 million people – 66% of them children – have now fled their homes this year, and thousands more are uprooted every single day.
Islamic Relief are on the ground
Islamic Relief have been providing vital support to those affected by the drought. So far, we have helped more than 167,000 people across the region, but much more is needed. We are providing people with food and cash, so that they can afford to buy food in local markets where it is available.
We are also improving water supplies by repairing old or damaged boreholes and drilling new ones, repairing traditional community water storage pools, and trucking in clean water where there is no other option. We are training health workers how to treat severely malnourished children, and supporting nutrition clinics.
However, our response urgently needs to be scaled up. Please support our vital work in the region and donate to our Horn of Africa Appeal today. Your donation could save lives.
