According to FEWSNET, there was an increase in food production due to the continued rainfall experienced in the eastern Horn of Africa. Average to above-average rains are expected to enhance crop and livestock production, increase demand for agricultural labor, and suppress resource-based conflict. Regardless of this, food insecurity persists due to a combination of factors, including conflict, drought recovery, previous and ongoing flooding.
8.7 million children are in need of humanitarian services in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia. 667,948 children under 5 are in need of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) treatment.
Over 1,500 new cases of cholera and acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) were registered in the region in July and August bringing the total number of cases for 2018 to 13,000 affected people. Other communicable diseases such as Measles remains present in the region.
In the Horn of Africa, a second consecutive season of atypically widespread flooding occured in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia similar to April/May 2018 long rains season after an extended period of drought in the region. At least up to a million people were negatively impacted with temporary displacement, crop and asset losses
Conflict and internal violence has displaced thousands of people in Somalia and Ethiopia. In Somalia, IDPs stand at a record 2.6 million and the number of forced eviction is on the rise with over 204,000 people evicted in 2018 alone. The number of IDPS has also increased to 2.6 million in Ethiopia.
Close to 960,000 people remain displaced in Ethiopia’s Gedeo Zone.
In Somalia, Dutch Relief Alliance funding of EUR 1.1 million has been secured with Oxfam as consortium lead. In Ethiopia ECHO approved an additional top up of EUR 1.5 million to support Dire Dawa and East Hararghe zone of Oromia.