The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Regional Focus of the 2024 Global Report on Food Crises unveils a harrowing deepening of food insecurity across East Africa, endangering millions of lives across Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. The report estimates a staggering 62.9 million people—more than 25% of the region’s population—are enduring acute food insecurity in 2024, a shocking rise from 61.9 million the previous year.
The crisis is particularly devastating in Sudan, where famine is ravaging the Zamzam camp in North Darfur, with 13 other areas teetering on the brink of collapse. This alarming trajectory has been spurred by unrelenting climate disasters and economic shocks. The lingering impacts of the devastating drought from 2020 to 2023, coupled with recent catastrophic floods driven by El Niño, and ongoing dry spells in 2024, have crippled agricultural production, leaving millions without reliable access to food.
Economic calamities, including rampant inflation, currency collapse, and erratic global food markets, have exacerbated this humanitarian disaster, further limiting access to already scarce food supplies for millions. The economic turmoil is tightening its grip on vulnerable populations, pushing them further into extreme hunger and hardship.
This escalating catastrophe is compounded by a record-breaking displacement crisis, with a colossal 25 million people uprooted across the region by mid-2024. The conflict has become a cruel catalyst, especially in Sudan, where 7.9 million people have been forcibly displaced since April 2023, marking it as the world’s largest internal displacement crisis. The relentless surge in displaced populations is straining the already overwhelmed humanitarian response in neighboring countries, worsening an already precarious situation.
In light of this critical situation, IGAD’s Executive Secretary, H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, urgently called for unified global action, emphasizing the deadly combination of climate extremes, economic instability, and conflict. “The scale of this crisis is unparalleled,” he declared. “We must intensify our efforts, build resilient communities, and address the root causes of conflict if we are to stave off disaster.”
Rukia Yacoub, WFP’s Deputy Regional Director for Eastern Africa, described Sudan’s hunger emergency as “the world’s most severe,” with more than half the population battling for survival. “This crisis is spilling over into neighboring nations, putting even greater pressure on already overstretched humanitarian resources,” she warned.
Farayi Zimudzi, FAO’s Subregional Coordinator for Eastern Africa, echoed these concerns, stressing the need for a shift from reactive emergency responses to proactive, future-focused strategies. “We must prioritize safeguarding livelihoods and food security through anticipatory measures,” Zimudzi urged. “Peace-building initiatives are crucial to protect agricultural production and sustain rural communities.” The report serves as a clarion call for immediate and coordinated action from regional and international partners. Addressing the intertwined challenges of climate change, economic turmoil, and conflict is crucial to alleviating the monumental humanitarian needs gripping the IGAD region and paving the way towards long-term stability and recovery for millions on the brink.
