Oxfam Dangerous Delays: East Africa Acute Hunger

At Oxfam, we bear witness to the courage of mothers who go to extreme lengths for their children. One such mother is Nyhtuk Hukuch, a South Sudanese refugee living in Gambella, Ethiopia, who has had to wake up and navigate impossible choices, stating "it was heartbreaking to see my children go hungry simply because I had to spend so much time getting water." Now, she collects water from a supply point built by Oxfam and partners. 

Nyhtuk is one of millions. Over the past three years, more than 30 million people across Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and South Sudan have faced persistent climate shocks, conflict and displacement. Since February 2022, your support has helped Oxfam and our partners reach more than 2.6 million people in those four countries with clean water, food, cash and the support needed to stay safe. 

This support is already making a tangible difference. In South Sudan, nearly 15,000 children in 22 schools received a daily meal, and attendance has steadily risen, particularly for girls. In Kismayo, Somalia, 50 women who had been forced from their homes ran greenhouses together and brought in their first harvest of tomatoes and cucumbers. In Ethiopia, where families depend on their herds, vaccinating more than a million animals protected the livelihoods of over 32,000 households.  

While the response has been wide-reaching, communities and partners have faced enormous challenges. Repeated climate shocks and conflict displaced millions, destroyed critical infrastructure, and made it harder to deliver assistance in already hard-to-reach areas. These countries are tasked with navigating overlapping emergencies, stretching existing response capacity thin.  

Funding shortfalls remain one of the biggest barriers to sustained impact. In Somalia, for example, less than 15% of the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan was funded by mid-year.This forced Oxfam and other actors on the ground to scale back or pause life-saving programmes, including nutrition support for malnourished children. Even in high-priority districts, responses remain under-resourced. 

These challenges underscore just how vital flexible, timely funding is. Your continued support helps us adapt, respond faster, and reach those most in need – thank you!