Extreme drought in East Africa: Swiss Solidarity opens donations account

The crisis at a glance:

• An estimated 13.1 to 14.1 million people in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia are suffering food and water shortages due to drought. In Sudan, 18 million people could be affected by famine by the fall.
• In a desperate quest for food, water and pasture, thousands of families are leaving their homes, increasing the risk of conflict and putting greater pressure on already strained basic services.
• This drought could become one of the worst climate crises to hit the Horn of Africa in recent memory.
• The war in Ukraine is making the situation worse. One of the world’s largest wheat exporters, Ukraine is no longer able to meet the high demand. This is having a dual impact on the country: as Ukraine loses its ability to grow enough food for itself, prices are rising and sometimes doubling.

The world’s 45 least developed countries import at least a third of their wheat from Ukraine or Russia—these include Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia, which imports 90% of its wheat from the two countries. “Now their breadbasket is being bombed”, says UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Furthermore, due to the staggering humanitarian needs in Ukraine and neighbouring countries, East Africa is losing out on urgently needed aid funds from states, organisations and the public.

Thank you for your solidarity!

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