Horn of Africa Drought
July 2011
The Situation:
During the summer of 2011 Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and other countries in the Horn of Africa region experienced the worst drought to plague the area in 60 years. Two years of sporadic rain — and the driest year since 1951 — resulted in severely reduced access to drinking water and major crop and livestock loss. The United Nations has declared six regions of Somalia as famine zones. Adding to the famine zones, many people became displaced due to the unstable Somali political scene.
Many of these displaced Somalis became refugees as they traveled hundreds of miles into neighboring countries in search of safety, food and water. Refugee camps in Kenya (Dadaab) and Ethiopia (Dollo Ado) took in most of these initial arrivals. At the height of the drought the arrival rates were higher than the staff capacity to process them, leading to severe shortages in lodging, water and food. Over time the number of arrivals has lessened but the issues of lodging, water, food and security continue.
Another issue caused by the drought involved pastoralists, cattle herders who travel from pasture to pasture. As the drought worsened, these pastures became smaller and farther apart. This led pastoralists to travel greater distances in search of grazing land. Sometimes these travels took them over international borders. The situation led to weaker animals and people more prone to disease as well as clashes between tribes across borders.
In late fall 2011, rains came to the region bringing relief to some areas. Unfortunately, the overall rainfall was less than the seasonal average, which led to lower crop yields.
ELCA Response:
Before this crisis hit, $250,000 was given for use in East Africa to meet the needs of the local population in future disasters. These funds helped provide immediate water, food and shelter. Working at the epicenter of the refugee crisis in Kenya and Ethiopia, The Lutheran World Federation used these ELCA funds to provide water in Dadaab to both refugees and the local population and enriched porridge for older adults and children too weak to take solid food.
In late July 2011, the ELCA also contributed an additional $400,000 to assist Ethiopian and Kenyan communities at increased risk, as well as Somalis seeking refuge in these countries. The ELCA response has been coordinated through the ACT Alliance and The Lutheran World Federation, as well as in partnership with ELCA companion churches in Kenya and Ethiopia.
In December 2011, the ELCA also approved $286,474 for the Community Peace and Security Teams in Dadaab and $102,337 for Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction in the Turkana district of Kenya. The Community Peace and Security Teams program is a creative project that empowers refugees within Dadaab to promote peace and security for the most vulnerable people. The Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction program in Turkana will help the local population build on its own current knowledge to help lessen the chances and impact of future disasters. By instilling the skills within the community, they are given both the opportunity and responsibility for the care of their lives and livelihoods in the face of disaster.
Over the coming months and years, this region-wide humanitarian crisis will continue to require a huge commitment from the global community. The ELCA will continue to gather resources and work with and through partners and companions to meet people's needs. For more information on the ELCA's response please read the following situation reports:
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Lutheran World Federation camp
manager visits new arrivals. |
What you can do:
Pray:
The act of leaving your home in search of the resources of life can be a terrifying and exhausting activity, with some people moving as far at 300 miles on foot. Please keep these people in your prayers, that God will continue to oversee their journey and will be with all those working to keep at bay the greater impacts of this disaster. For some possible prayer petitions please use the ELCA Worship resource natural disasters.
Study and Share:
As you follow the situation in secular media, please check out these other resources for stories of how the ELCA and its companions are engaging in the situation.
Give:
Gifts to ELCA Disaster Response help us to provide immediate and effective support to communities which are in need. Please consider giving to support the needs of this response and others like it. Information on different ways to give is provided in the left sidebar. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.
Photo Credit: ACT/NCA/Laurie
Photo Credit: Mohammedhadi Sheikh