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Horn of Africa crisis


Media contact
Lauren Fisher
206.310.5476
 
 
Click for a PDF Drought Information Graphic from OCHA.

What you need to know about hunger in 2012 (PDF)

Horn of Africa Fact Sheet (PDF)


Field worker blog from the scene of the humanitarian emergency


A severe drought in Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia — all parts of East Africa known as the "Horn of Africa" — killed tens of thousands of children and pushed millions of families to the brink. Thousands made a dangerous crossing over Somalia's borders each day, to find refugee camps already overflowing.

More than 13 million people were driven into dire need after crops failed, prices of food and fuel skyrocketed, and political tensions in the region made access for aid organizations difficult.

Then, seasonal rains in Somalia threatened to spread diseases such as cholera and measles among internally displaced people already suffering from malnutrition. Aid experts became concerned that we had arrived at a "tipping point" where hundreds of thousands could die.

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HARD - KEN from Ashley Clements on Vimeo


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Other recent news items from the drought zone

12/28/2011 Horn of Africa 90 day report
12/27/2011 United Nations downgrades some famine zones in Somalia
10/17/2011 World Vision hosts USAID Administrator for speech on faith and global development in 21st century
09/26/2011 NGOs jointly produce "Charter to End Extreme Hunger" (PDF)
09/21/2011 NGOs call for all-inclusive dialogue to save lives in Somalia (PDF)
09/19/2011 World Vision partners with USAID, Ad Council on new "FWD Campaign" to bring attention to drought in Horn of Africa
09/19/2011 World Vision joins the Million Moms Challenge with ABC News & UN Foundation
09/08/2011 Dr. Kent Hill's testimony on drought and famine in the Horn of Africa, before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs (PDF)
09/06/2011 Joint letter from humanitarian organizations on FY12 appropriations (PDF)
08/31/2011 Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness urge Americans to support World Vision's relief efforts in East Africa
08/30/2011 Parents in Kenya too afraid to send their children back to school
08/29/2011 World Vision supporters launch global online campaign to make #FamineNoMore
08/24/2011 African Union must show leadership before it's too late, says World Vision
08/18/2011 World's largest refugee camp expands today; tens of thousands expected
08/17/2011 World Vision's Horn of Africa Tweetup, via @WorldVisionNews
08/15/2011 Tents airlifted in as world's largest refugee camp continues to swell
08/09/2011 World Vision steps up relief efforts in drought-stricken Somalia
08/03/2011 World Vision responds to thousands of displaced Somali children along Ethiopia border
07/26/2011 Budget battle not a right-left issue, it’s a right-wrong issue, says World Vision
07/25/2011 As global leaders meet in Rome, World Vision urges international donors to provide $850 million to fund humanitarian crisis in Horn of Africa
07/20/2011 The First Famine of the 21st Century Demands Greater Response Somalia NGO Consortium Says, “Act Now to Save Lives” (PDF)
07/20/2011 We need safe access to those affected by famine in Somalia, says World Vision
07/13/2011 Drought, lack of food threaten millions in Horn of Africa
02/08/2011 As drought grips East Africa, World Vision fears “we have not seen the worst yet”

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