Severe drought pushes East Africa towards a humanitarian emergency.
Worsening drought in East Africa is putting millions of lives and livelihoods at risk, with Somalia, southeastern Ethiopia and eastern Kenya facing some of the harshest conditions.
According to the latest analysis from the Global Drought Observatory, drought conditions that began in September 2025 have intensified due to scarce rainfall and unusually high temperatures, triggering widespread crop losses, livestock deaths and rising food insecurity.
As of January 2026, an estimated 4.6 million people are already affected across the region, and more than 135,000 people have been displaced in Somalia alone.
