Hunger and Conflict in East and Central Africa
Across several countries in East Africa and a few in Central Africa, a storm of challenges are threatening the lives and well-being of millions of children and their families. Sudan and several other countries in the region face a devastating crisis that is putting children’s lives at risk. From economic instability to conflict, displacement, climate shocks, and a horrific hunger crisis, the region is up against challenges that are jeopardizing the health, education, safety, and hopes of millions of children. Below, we explore the reasons for hunger and conflict in East and Central Africa and what you can do to help improve the lives of children.
What exactly is happening in East and Central Africa?
Eastern African countries have been battling numerous bouts of political instability and turmoil for numerous years, with the addition of a severe climate crisis and widespread food insecurity, the outcome is millions of people with no access to the necessities of life.
This past spring, clashes between rival military groups in Sudan left more than 1,800 people dead and forced 1.4 million people to flee their homes. These refugees fled into Chad, Central African Republic, and South Sudan putting extreme pressure on an already overburdened humanitarian relief system in those countries. In combination with the surges in conflict, persistent drought conditions in Ethiopia, Somalia, the DRC, and Kenya resulted in millions of children and their families desperately seeking food and water. In the DRC alone, 26.4 million people, which is a quarter of the country’s population, are food insecure. This devastating number is the highest of its kind worldwide.
What is Save the Children doing to help?
Save the Children is working in the region to provide emergency food, water, shelter, and medical essentials, including medical equipment and trauma kits, to children and families. We work with families in both inpatient and outpatient healthcare services, treating and screening children for malnutrition and delivering counselling services on how to feed infants and young children.
Save the Children also implements a wide range of programs to tackle the challenges families in the region are facing. This includes programming for children in child-friendly spaces and community-based child protection groups, to support children’s safety and emotional wellbeing.
Also, we provide cash transfers to families to help them buy their own essentials. We know from evidence that a majority of people prefer to be supported by cash assistance. This prevents families from resorting to actions that may negatively affect their children, like cutting back on meals, pulling children out of school, sending children to work or promoting early and forced marriage.
When families have lost their farms due to climate shocks, they also lose their livelihood. We work alongside community partners to assist these families with livestock feed and vaccinations, seeds, and tools. For instance, in South Sudan, through Community Based Animal Health Workers we have treated more than 120,000 livestock across 3,000 households.
What can you do to help?
As the humanitarian crisis in East and Central Africa continues to deteriorate, urgent attention, solidarity, and collective action from the global community is critically needed to save lives. These countries add to the vibrancy of the African continent and are home to millions of children that have the right to survive, thrive and live in peace.
Save the Children is continuing to respond to the escalating humanitarian crisis and is calling on Canadians to donate to our response. The Government of Canada has announced a matching fund for all donations made between May 1 and June 30, so your donation will be doubled and reach twice as many children and families with life-saving support. The government match is for all members of the Humanitarian Coalition, of which Save the Children is a proud member.
Please consider donating now so that your donation will be doubled by the Government of Canada and we can collectively support children and families in East and Central Africa to rebuild their lives.