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East Africa Food Crisis

Last updated: 9 March 2012

Plan is on the ground providing relief to thousands of children and families in East Africa, where severe drought has put millions of people at risk of starvation. Our emergency teams are assisting communities in Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan. They are also monitoring the situation in Karamoja, Uganda - a region that suffers from chronic poverty, food shortages and periodic drought - for future interventions. Due to the extent of the emergency, which the United Nations has described as the world’s worst unfolding humanitarian crisis, we have extended our response outside of normal operation areas.

Children at a Plan food distribution point in southern Ethiopia

Donate to the East Africa Drought Appeal - Children in Crisis today.

Targeted Kenya aid

In Kenya, we are currently working in 5 areas: Tharaka, Machakos and Kitui in the Eastern Province, Kwale and Kilifi in the Coastal region.

So far we have reached more than 733,000 people - providing supplementary feeding at schools, water trucking and storage, therapeutic feeding programmes, hygiene promotion as well as child protection, which is one of Plan's key priorities.

Ethiopia food distribution

In Ethiopia, we are currently reaching more than 167,000 of the most vulnerable - providing emergency food supplies especially for young children and mothers, hygiene promotion, water supplies and child protection.

We are intervening in 5 areas in Ethiopia: Shebedino, which is a Plan operation area, and Arsi Zone, Waghemra, and Hadiya, areas outside our operation units.

We aim to support as many children as possible so that they stay in school with minimal disruption to their learning.

Girls first to go hungry

Children will be supported to remain in school with minimal disruption to their learning. Attention will be given to the specific risks faced by children, especially girls and young women. "Girls are particularly at risk," says Plan's country director in Ethiopia, David Throp. "They're often the first to go hungry if families don’t have enough food, and economic pressures may lead to them dropping out of school, migration and even early marriage."

Map of countries affected by the drought with Plan emergency response areas marked in blue

South Sudan support

In South Sudan, Plan is working with partners to ensure that children are supported with nutritious food so they can continue with their education.

Currently we are reaching more than 122,900 people - assisting in school feeding, food assistance for the returnees, hygiene promotion and provision of agricultural supplies to help families break the cycle of hunger.

We are intervening in 3 areas: Juba, in Central Equatorial, which is a part of our programme area, and Eastern Equatorial and Jonglei, which are outside our operation areas in South Sudan.

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Donate to the East Africa Drought Appeal - Children in Crisis today.

In the event that the appeal is oversubscribed, or circumstances in the field prevent completion of our operations, funds will be retained in our Children in Crisis fund and used for later emergencies.

About Plan

Plan is one of the oldest and largest children's development organisations in the world. We work with communities in 50 developing countries and raise funds to support our work in 21 countries like Australia. By actively involving children, and working at a grassroots level with no religious or political agenda, we unite and inspire people around the globe to transform the world for children.