Famine Hits Horn of Africa

In late July 2011, the United Nations declared large sections of Somalia a famine zone.  At the same time, large sections of neighboring Ethiopia and Kenya are experiencing emergency food shortages not seen in decades.  The United States estimates that 29,000 children under the age of 5 have died of starvation within the last 90 days.  

Immediately, the United Nations estimates that 3.2 million of Somalia's 7.5 million residents are in need of immediate life saving aid.  Throughout the region, 12 million people are struggling to get adequate food.  The United Nations also estimates that $300 million in aid will be needed within the next 2 months.

What is Causing the Crisis?

The entire region is experiencing its worst drought in 60 years.  That means that livestock are dying and people aren't able to grow the crops they need to survive.  In a region that was already among the poorest in the world, this combination spells disaster.  

Somalia is feeling some of the worst effects because on top of existing poverty and the massive drought, the country has been stuck in political conflict and instability for years. Taken together, aid workers are saying this is the largest crisis they've seen since the drought and famine in Ethiopia in the mid-1980's. 

What is a Famine?

A famine is the most dire classification for food shortages.  The United Nations declares a famine when malnutrition rates are greater than 30% and when 4 children and 2 adults are dying for every 10,000 people per day.  To get a sense of the scale of crisis we're talking about, if a famine occurred today in the United States, that would mean 3,000 children were dying every day. 

What Can We Do to Help?

Unfortunately, the famine in Somalia is largely sliding under the media radar, especially here in the United States.  As a result, aid organizations are consistently reporting that donations are slow in coming and inadequate to meet the scale of this crisis.  

The most helpful thing people in the United States can do in the immediate term is to raise funds for organizations that already have an infrastructure on the ground.  While shipments of food, medical and clothing donations can take a long time to reach the area, these organizations can work with their existing vendors and supply chains to turn funds into immediate relief.  

The National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness is recommending that students and other volunteers work to raise funds for Oxfam's relief efforts in the region.  

Oxfam can accept funds through their website or by mail at:

Oxfam America

Food Crisis in East Africa

P.O. Box 1211

Albert Lea, MN 56007-1211

Given the urgency of the crisis, we urge volunteers to send funds to Oxfam directly as soon as they're raised.