Three consecutive failed rainy seasons have left 29.1 million people in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya in need of urgent humanitarian assistance in 2022, including at least 1.7 million severely wasted children on the brink of death who require lifesaving support.

Somalia is by far the worst affected country, with at least 330,000 children in need of lifesaving treatment for severe wasting in 2022 – far exceeding the 190,000 who required treatment during the country’s 2011 famine. This year, more than 81,000 people are at risk of famine by the end of June if the current rainy season fails.

On a recent vision to an integrated health center in Dollow, Somalia, Rania Dagash, UNICEF Deputy Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, met with mothers who had walked for 75 miles to seek emergency treatment for their severely malnourished children. UNICEF is providing support and treatment at the center, including Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food and therapeutic milk.

"Children have diarrhea, they are vomiting, very weak, very dizzy," said Dagash. "The drought is the reason why they have moved 120 kilometers away. Many more are left behind."

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