International Red Cross Response

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is taking immediate action to scale-up vital support, resources, and interventions to respond to this potentially devastating regional food crisis in Eastern Africa.

Food insecurity in eastern Africa, 2006.

Food insecurity in eastern Africa, 2006. Dembihara, Moyale District, Ethiopia, April 2006.

The Red Cross approach to this emergency is based on a country-by country approach, targetting the needs in each country as required. However, we are also addressing the overall regional needs, dealing with many cross-border problems such as population movement.

The Red Cross is operating with the benefit of solid experience in the implementation of national food insecurity or humanitarian assistance operations:

Red Cross and Red Crescent action taken so far

Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger (Sahel): Food Insecurity crisis;

Southern Africa: Food Insecurity crisis

Southern Sudan: Humanitarian Assistance to Returnees and Affected Communities

Kenya: Drought

Eritrea: Drought

While the first two operations (Sahel and Southern Africa) were based on a regional approach, the Red Cross strategy with the Eastern Africa food insecurity situation is similar to the recent Kenya, Eritrea, and southern Sudan appeals and country-based in nature (while recognizing the regional dimension of the problem). Related to the separate Kenya drought appeal, the Red Cross is concerned about the low current coverage (some 3%) and the lack of funding support to date, and urges donors to provide timely and generous support to this appeal.