Hunger Across Africa

How drought and conflict have put millions on the verge of famine

A mother feeds her child with a peanut-based paste for treatment of severe acute malnutrition in a UNICEF supported hospital in the capital Juba, South Sudan, January 25, 2017. Reuters.

The Latest Headlines

Malawi Farmers Turn to Traditional Methods Against Fall Armyworm

Fall Armyworms Hit Malawi, President Appeals for Help

In Malawi, President Peter Mutharika has declared 20 of the country’s 28 districts disaster areas following an invasion by fall armyworms. The pests have destroyed the crops of nearly 140,000 farming families since the start of November.

Fish Farming Project Helps CAR Refugees Feed Themselves

The United Nations says humanitarian needs in refugee camps in Cameroon are increasing, exceeding the means available to take care of the growing number of refugees. At Gado refugee camp in eastern Cameroon, 200 refugee women have developed a fish pond by a river and are supplying fish not only to people in need in the camp but to surrounding villages.

East Africa Battled Severe Drought, Hunger in 2017

Severe drought and conflict in East Africa left more than 37 million people severely food insecure in 2017, according to the U.N. World Food Program. Emergency relief efforts helped much of the region avoid the worst with the exception of South Sudan, where famine was declared in two regions in early 2017 and the humanitarian situation continues to get worse.

UN Launches Biggest-ever Humanitarian Appeal

The United Nations is appealing for a record $22.5 billion to provide humanitarian assistance to 91 million victims of conflict and natural disasters in 2018.

Explainer: The World’s Largest Crisis In 70 Years

Across a vast swath of Africa, millions face starvation. Drought, conflict and disease have led to the continent’s worst humanitarian crisis in decades.

In South Sudan, 1.6 million people have fled to nearby countries to escape war and find food. In Somalia, thousands of families have moved from their villages to camps for the displaced. In Nigeria, 450,000 children face acute malnutrition after years of attacks by the terror group Boko Haram. Here, VOA provides ongoing coverage of the disaster, its causes and the humanitarian response.

March 22, 2018

Nearly 8 Million Ethiopians Need Emergency Food, Water

By Lisa Schlein

Ethiopia is appealing for $1.6 billion to provide emergency and long-term aid for 7.88 million people affected by drought, floods and conflict. U.N. officials presented their humanitarian and disaster resilience plan. Read more.

March 21, 2018

Dire Humanitarian Crisis Grips DRC's Kasai Region

By Anita Powell

Top U.N. humanitarian official warned 13 million people need aid in Congo, including 2 million children already experiencing severe, acute malnutrition. Read more.

March 19, 2018

South Sudan Nonprofit Calls for Restriction on Imported Seeds

By Gift Friday

A local organization that distributes seeds in South Sudan's Gbudue state wants the government to restrict international groups from importing seed into the country. Read more.

January 22, 2018 Malawi Farmers Turn to Traditional Methods Against Fall Armyworm By Lameck Masina
December 18, 2017 Fall Armyworms Hit Malawi, President Appeals for Help By Lameck Masina
December 14, 2017 Fish Farming Project Helps CAR Refugees Feed Themselves By Moki Edwin Kindzeka

December 4, 2017 East Africa Battled Severe Drought, Hunger in 2017 By Jill Craig
December 1, 2017 UN Launches Biggest-ever Humanitarian Appeal By Lisa Schlein
October 12, 2017 UN Chief: Worldwide Famine Averted, but Numbers of Hungry Growing By Margaret Besheer

Mapping the Threat

FEWS NET — the Famine Early Warning System Network — tracks food insecurity around the world. The project helps define how much hunger regions face by placing them on a five-point scale that ranges from minimal to catastrophic. Once food insecurity reaches famine levels, suffering and loss of life cannot be prevented, even with humanitarian assistance.

Minimal. Up to 20 percent of households must take drastic steps to meet basic needs, for example, selling assets to pay for food or shelter.
The remaining levels deal with challenges that affect at least 20 percent of households, despite the presence of humanitarian assistance.
Stressed. Households cannot get enough food without meeting other non-food needs through unsustainable means.
Crisis. Households either experience stretches of acute malnutrition or must deplete assets to meet food needs, leading to gaps in food consumption.
Emergency. Households experience long stretches of acute malnutrition and excess mortality or see the extreme loss of assets.
Catastrophe/Famine. Households experience an extreme lack of food, leading to starvation and death. When at least 20 percent of households in an area are affected, this phase represents the minimum threshold for famine. There are degrees of famine characterized by an increasing death rate and more rampant starvation.

Move the levels left and right to update the map. Only countries with IPC levels in the specified range will appear. Source: FEWS.NET

Root Causes

Explore the root causes and contributing factors behind Africa’s deadliest food shortages in years.

March 19, 2018UN: $1.7 Billion Needed for DRC Humanitarian Crisis By Margaret Besheer
February 26, 2018UN Warns Famine Conditions Set to Return in South Sudan By Daniel Schearf
November 6, 2017WFP: South Sudan Food Problem 'Worsening' By Jill Craig
March 27, 2017Experts Say Climate Change May Be Making African Drought Worse By Steve Baragona

Responses & Solutions

Track emergency interventions and long-term remedies designed to save lives.

February 7, 2018Malawi Drought Sparks Mob Violence, Accusations of Witchcraft By Lameck Masina
January 29, 2018Aid Agencies on Alert in Somalia Amid Low Rainfall By Mohammed Yusuf
January 24, 2018UN: 1.5 Million South Sudanese on Brink of Famine By Margaret Besheer
March 28, 2017Somaliland Hospital Cares for Malnourished From Drought By Abdulaziz Osman

Country Reports

In three countries — Nigeria, South Sudan and Somalia — food insecurity has reached emergency levels, and famine has been declared in part of South Sudan. Each of these countries has experienced years of devastating conflict, and ongoing violence and instability continue to limit access to humanitarian aid.

Nigeria

Northeastern Nigeria faces acute food shortages due in large part to years of attacks by Boko Haram. The terror group has displaced millions, including farmers who have missed multiple planting and harvesting seasons. The U.N. estimates that 450,000 children face acute malnutrition in the conflict area.

Somalia

Somalia is rebuilding its civil and military institutions after 20 years of conflict. Challenges abound as the extremist group al-Shabab continues to control some regions and conducts regular attacks designed to cause many deaths. Conflict has left the country unprepared for an extended drought, and now more than half its population — 6.2 million people — face food insecurity, according to the U.N.

South Sudan

In Africa’s youngest country, a civil war has displaced millions of people, and warring parties have prevented humanitarian organizations from reaching people who need food. The U.N. reports that 270,000 children are severely malnourished, and over 5 million people are food insecure.

About the project

Through the “Hunger Across Africa” project, the Voice of America provides ongoing coverage of all angles of Africa’s worst humanitarian crisis in decades. Across the continent, reporters on-the-ground provide vital multimedia coverage of the human and economic effects of widespread drought and malnutrition. Our in-depth reporting will address the impact on people, livestock and crops; food assistance efforts; food prices; internally displaced people and migration; war and conflict; dams and infrastructure; and long-term solutions.

Project Credits

This project was created by a team of journalists, developers and designers at The Voice of America. Learn more about us.