More than 13 million people across East Africa are in desperate need following the worst drought in some regions for more than 60 years. Failed rains and rocketing food prices mean that women and children are struggling to survive.

Many thanks to our generous supporters, who have donated over £1 million to our emergency appeal. A Disasters Emergency Committee appeal raised a further £75 million, of which ActionAid will receive £2.37 million.

Donate now to help save lives.

What is ActionAid doing now?

As severe drought turned to famine in parts of east Africa, ActionAid has been delivering food,water and other vital support to over 375,000 people across 14 of the worst affected areas in Kenya.

In Ijara we provided food relief to 26,000 vulnerable female-headed households. Our extensive school-feeding programme has ensured that over 28,000 children get a nutritious meal every day. In Isiolo we provided fuel to power two school water pumps, which act as the only source of water for both schoolchildren and the surrounding community – a total of 1,000 people.

We also worked with the government to supply fresh water to communities in Modogashe. The local tank is filled four times a day – twice by ActionAid and twice by the government. Together, we provided 800 households – some 5,000 people – with the water they need.

Six months on from the peak of the crisis, some rains have come. But there remains much to be done to help people recover from the devastating impact of the drought. Over the next two and a half years we will continue to support communities to get back to earning a sustainable living, and to become less vulnerable to future crises. . This will involve distributing drought-resistant seeds, training women in alternative livelihoods such as bread-making, introducing kitchen and school gardens and supporting micro-catchment and irrigation schemes. We will also help train communities and local government officials on disaster management, and link meteorological data with community-based early warning systems.

Donate now

Your donation could help us deliver emergency supplies of food and water, and support families to prepare and adapt to climate changes so they can survive and not become reliant on food aid.

• Donate now to help save lives.
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