East Africa – including Ethiopia, South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda and Somalia – is currently experiencing a food crisis on an unimaginable scale. Many diverse factors have contributed to this crisis, including ongoing conflict, climate change, Covid-19, desert locusts, and the impact of the war in Ukraine on international grain and fertiliser prices.
In Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, the worst drought in 40 years has gripped the region. As of December 2022, it is estimated that at least 20 million people across the region are facing acute food insecurity, with women and girls being the most affected by this crisis.
Policy positions
East Africa hunger crisis: Advocacy resources
Curated resources to influence decision makers, including policy recommendations, videos and media articles
2023

‘...it is estimated that at least 21 million people across the region are facing acute food insecurity’
In South Sudan alone, 8.3 million people are severely food insecure, as conflict and severe flooding has hit the country. Cuts in humanitarian funding have also worsened the situation.
Tearfund and our local partners are calling on national and international policymakers to urgently respond to the pressing humanitarian needs in East Africa.
Additional resources
Here you can view and download several resources including policy recommendations, videos and media articles relating to this hunger crisis. Please feel free to adapt them and use them as appropriate.
- Report: Drought of a generation: Tackling the hunger crisis in East Africa
- Video: The impact of climate change on women and girls in East Africa
- Video: Ephraim Tsegay speaks to MPs in the UK Parliament
- Article: ‘Alarming’ rise in child marriage across drought-hit Horn of Africa
- Article: How can Christians break bread when there is none?
This clip is taken from a panel discussion that was held at the Conservative party conference 2022 at which Liz Myendo (Tearfund's SEA Disaster Management Lead) spoke. Other speakers included Vicky Ford MP (Minister of State for Development in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office), Aria Babu (Senior Researcher at The Entrepreneurs Network) and Steph Spyro (Political Correspondent and Environment Editor at the Daily Express).
Ephraim Tsegay, Strategic Project Lead, Africa (and former Ethiopia country director) gives a talk in the UK parliament in May 2022 about the humanitarian crisis in East Africa. The event was chaired by Pauline Latham MP.
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