• Raising Families
• Operation Christmas Child
• Water and Sanitation
• Livelihoods
• Church Mobilisation
• Disasters and Emergencies
  • Crisis in Sudan/South Sudan
  • Sudan Crisis Resources
  • Helping in the Aftermath of Typhoon Bopha
  • Refugee Stories
• Child & Family Support
• The Greatest Journey

Horn of Africa

Millions of people throughout the Horn of Africa are struggling from a critical food emergency primarily due to the worst drought the area has experienced in decades. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), drought is the most common cause of severe food shortages and is one of the most important triggers of malnutrition and famine.

Drought affects the four dimensions of food security—availability, stability, access, and utilization. Experts expect the current situation to deteriorate further over the next few months because of the high cost of food, violent conflict in the area, and crop and livestock loss. As Somali refugees stream into Northern Kenya, we are meeting the needs of the host communities that are suffering from drought and lack of food.

How Samaritan’s Purse is responding:

• Our tanker trucks are providing clean water for drinking and livestock to Northeastern Kenya.
  
  
• The Samaritan’s Purse team in Nairobi is purchasing and distributing food for thousands, in an area south of Garissa.
  
  
• We are distributing hygiene kits. The hygiene team trains residents in how to use the kits, hand washing, and other basic hygiene and sanitation practices.
  
  
• We are distributing tools for use in our Cash for Work latrine construction program. Not only will this project help with sanitary needs in participating villages, it also gives residents the opportunity to earn an income to buy food for their families.
  
  
• We are screening infants and children, and have found approximately 25% affected with needs ranging from severe acute malnutrition to those at risk.

How you can respond:

PRAY: Please pray that the international community is able to launch an effective humanitarian response that will save lives and reduce suffering. Pray for those who have lost family members to starvation and disease, and for an end to the conditions that are causing this catastrophic food shortage.

SHARE: Share this webpage on Facebook, Twitter (using icons at the bottom of the page) or by email to help us spread the word about the needs of the people in the Horn of Africa. You can also download our PowerPoint presentation, to use within your church service this Sunday.

GIVE: Please consider giving to our Emergency Relief Fund, which will help us respond to the crisis in East Africa and to other emergencies around the world as they happe

We will continue to keep you updated on developments in the Horn of Africa on this page.

The area affected by the current drought, along with the area where Samaritan's Purse is responding.