Alarming displacement crisis in the Horn of Africa: More than 20 million people forced to relocate
The displacement crisis is exacerbated by many factors including severe flooding, food insecurity and ongoing conflict. Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia are particularly affected by these problems. Additionally, the Horn of Africa is home to approximately 5.4 million refugees and asylum seekers. Uganda is the largest host country with 1.7 million refugees, followed by Ethiopia with 1 million and Kenya with 906,000.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) reported that as of July, about 67 million people in the region faced food insecurity. . Of these, 39 million reside in IGAD member countries, including Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, As of August 15, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported a staggering 20.1 million people had been internally displaced in the Horn of Africa in the first seven months of this year. The figure, highlighted by Xinhua, marks an increase from the 19.2 million reported in June, due to growing internal displacement in Burundi, Ethiopia and Sudan.
Sudan leads the crisis: A closer look
Sudan was the hardest hit with 10.7 million people displaced. This includes 7.9 million internally displaced people and 2.1 million who have sought refuge in neighboring countries since the conflict erupted in April 2023. Somalia is followed by 3 .5 million displaced, Ethiopia with 3.3 million and South Sudan with 2 million.
South Sudan, Tanzania, Sudan and Uganda.
On August 2, international agencies warned that rainfall is expected to be below average in the upcoming rainy season from October to December. This predicted shortfall risks exacerbating the crisis. food insecurity crisis, potentially adding to the number of displaced people.
This ongoing crisis highlights the urgent need for international support and sustainable solutions to address both displacement and food insecurity in the Horn of Africa.
