East Africa facing ‘double-dip’ hunger crisis

Poor rains, crop shortages and difficulties in reaching conflict-affected areas could wipe out any improvements made following east Africa's catastrophic food crisis last year.

Farmland and livestock across east Africa was devastated by the 2011 crisis, which claimed tens of thousands of lives.

Despite a delay in action, the huge relief effort, followed by good rains in the autumn, saw levels of hunger begin to drop. 

Progress under threat

Now, that tentative progress is now under threat and families in east Africa are facing the possibility of a second summer of extreme hunger.

Matt Croucher, Save the Children’s East Africa Humanitarian Director, said: “There is a very real chance that poor rains, crop failures and conflict will mean that the recovery that began in the autumn was a false dawn, and the region will experience a double-dip hunger crisis.

"Decisive action could prevent a repeat of last year’s crisis; we must prepare for the worst, not just hope for the best.”