Food Insecurity and Malnutrition Crisis in the Greater Horn of Africa: An Urgent Call for Action

The Greater Horn of Africa (GHoA) region is currently facing significant challenges at the beginning of 2024. With an estimated 50.1 million people experiencing food insecurity crises, the situation is dire. Of particular concern are 11.4 million children under five years old who are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition, with 2.9 million severely malnourished by June 2024.

The region has over 24.1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, and asylum seekers due to ongoing conflicts, flooding, drought, and limited access to healthcare. Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and South Sudan report the highest numbers of IDPs in the region. These factors have led to displacement, damage to health facilities, food price inflation, and increased malnutrition.

The challenging conditions in these regions hinder response efforts to disease outbreaks like cholera and measles, resulting in higher rates of illness and death despite efforts to address the crisis. The Greater Horn of Africa continues to face significant challenges that require urgent attention from the international community to prevent further suffering and loss of life.