Africa food crisis
Photo: David Levene/Oxfam GB
Millions of people in Africa are facing a humanitarian crisis driven by drought, conflict, and rising global food prices.
What Oxfam is doing
Oxfam is working directly, and with partners, in Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa and Zimbabwe to support those in need.
Ethiopia
The cyclical failure of seasonal rains and the onset of drought has led to severe food shortages across the country. This is particularly disastrous for Ethiopians because more than 80% of people live off the land. As a result they're unable to grow food to earn an income and are therefore dependent on food aid for survival.
The 1984 famine in Ethiopia saw one million people die and millions more suffer from hunger. It launched the one of the biggest global aid campaigns in history. Remember Live Aid? Well not much has changed since then unfortunately as millions still face severe food and water shortages.
And while we’re supporting more than 50,000 vulnerable people with water, food, and a means of earning a living, we’re most concerned about the food and water shortages that have continued since 1984.
Oxfam is calling for a radical shake-up in the way the world deals with food crises. We believe that the issues are complex and long-term development solutions are required, not the bandaid solution of food aid. More on this in our report Band Aids and Beyond.
Somalia
More than a third of the population in Somalia is in need of humanitarian assistance.
Rising food prices are badly affecting people, and in most parts of the country, malnutrition rates are beyond the emergency threshold levels set by the United Nations. The price of imported rice, for example, rose by 350% in several markets between January and May 2008.
Oxfam is working with local partner organisations to provide vital assistance to half a million people across south and central Somalia. We are providing the largest emergency water response in the region and supporting a pioneering program providing hot meals to more than 50,000 people in Mogadishu every day.
Oxfam has supported cash for work schemes that have improved infrastructure for communities and provided much needed finances, lifting people out of debt and dependency.
Kenya
Northern Kenya has been severely affected by five years of almost continuous drought. While rising food prices have affected the entire population, the urban poor have been especially hard hit with food increasingly priced beyond their reach.
Oxfam is providing support to 63,470 people in Turkana and 139,000 people in Wajir to help them cope with the worsening situation.
Oxfam has:
- Supported women’s weaving groups in Wajir with income-generating activities
- Run community cash for work schemes in Wajir to build water storage facilities
- Supported income-generating activities for community groups and individuals in Turkana
- Helped people in Turkana to establish viable and sustainable businesses
Mozambique
Oxfam Australia has been working in Mozambique for more than 20 years to reduce poverty and build a better life for people. Developing sustainable food production and livelihoods is an important part of our work here, especially given the current food crisis. Most recently we have worked with local partner organisations to establish irrigation systems in Gaza province, boosting the crop potential of farming communities.
South Africa
Oxfam Australia is providing water catchment systems for individual households and community centres in KwaZulu-Natal province. These simple water guttering and filter systems give people access to clean drinking water which is also used to sustain small household gardens – valuable sources of income and additional food, particularly for people with HIV and AIDS.
Zimbabwe
Hyper-inflation, the impact of HIV and AIDS, and the decline in recent years of commercial farm production, have all led to a widespread lack of food and other essential items across Zimbabwe.
At the end of March Oxfam completed a three-month food aid program, which we ran in conjunction with the World Food Programme in three drought-affected districts of Kwekwe, Shurugwi and Chirumanzu. With the support of The Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance, we distributed essential public heath items such as soap and jerry cans along with food packages.
Oxfam continues to work with partners to maintain our long-term development programs, which aim to help Zimbabweans to improve their livelihoods, support those living with HIV and AIDS, prevent the spread of the disease, and combat gender-based violence.
Learn more
Find out more about the world food crisis
Read our report that calls for a radical shake-up of the international aid system Band Aids and Beyond.
Take action
Donate to our Africa Food Crisis Appeal
Your donation will directly support the work of Oxfam and our partners throughout Africa where it is needed most, helping us to provide relief as well as develop sustainable solutions to provide food for the future.