42 million people across six IGAD member states are facing severe food insecurity in 2025, according to a recent assessment.
This growing crisis highlights the mounting challenges in the Horn of Africa and parts of East Africa, where extreme weather, conflict, and economic pressures are straining food systems.
According to a report by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda are among the countries most affected.
The number of people experiencing acute food insecurity in these states has nearly tripled since 2016, rising from 13.9 million to over 41 million today.
In Kenya, more than 1.8 million people in arid and semi-arid areas are currently at risk of food shortages. With forecasts indicating below-average rainfall in the last quarter of 2025, this figure could increase to 2.1 million by early 2026, threatening local food production.
The Kenyan government has estimated that over Ksh 4 billion will be required to assist vulnerable populations, particularly in the Eastern and Northern regions.
The State Department for ASALs and Regional Development is preparing to support affected communities.
IGAD points to multiple shocks as drivers of food insecurity in the region, including droughts, floods, ongoing conflicts, economic challenges, and rising debt. These factors have weakened resilience and reversed gains in food security and development.
Sudan is facing a particularly critical situation, with 24.6 million people highly food insecure and famine conditions reported in several areas. South Sudan has over half its population living in crisis conditions, with some counties at risk of famine.
The report also highlights severe malnutrition, noting that 11.4 million children are affected, with 3.1 million requiring life-saving treatment. This reinforces the Horn of Africa’s status as a global epicenter of malnutrition, despite years of interventions and pledges.
“These statistics are not just abstract data; they represent the lives of people living amongst us. The figures and the evidence we have provided show that we are not on track to end hunger, achieve food security, and improve nutrition by 2030,” Charity Mumbua, a food security expert at IGAD said.
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