IGAD reveals Kenya among six member countries where famine risks continue to rise

Kenya is among six Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) member states where 42 million people are facing acute food insecurity in 2025, according to a new regional report released on Tuesday.

The IGAD Regional Focus of the 2025 Global Report on Food Crises shows that Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda are all grappling with worsening hunger.

In five of these countries—Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda—comparable data since 2016 reveals a near tripling of people facing acute food insecurity. Numbers have risen from 13.9 million in 2016, during the first edition of the Global Report on Food Crises, to 41.7 million in 2025.

Sudan and South Sudan stand out as the most severe crises. Sudan has the largest food-insecure population at 24.6 million, with famine and famine risk reported in several areas. South Sudan continues to register the highest proportion of its population in IPC Phase 3 and above, with 57 per cent affected. Two counties remain at risk of famine.

Interlinked drivers

The report identifies conflict, economic shocks and climate extremes as interlinked drivers that undermine resilience, reverse development gains and increase vulnerability.

Forecasts by IGAD’s Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) warn of drier-than-normal conditions in southern Ethiopia, eastern Kenya and much of Somalia. Central and northern Somalia, already struggling with a poor rainy season, risk worsening drought and hunger if another season fails.

Acute malnutrition is also critical. The report estimates that 11.4 million children aged six to 59 months are acutely malnourished across seven IGAD states, with 3.1 million urgently needing lifesaving treatment. Yet funding shortfalls could leave around one million people without access to this essential care.

The displacement crisis in the IGAD region is among the world’s worst, with 23.2 million people forcibly displaced as of June 2025. This includes 17.8 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and 5.4 million refugees and asylum seekers.

Sudan has the largest internal displacement crisis globally, with about 10 million IDPs, while Uganda continues to host Africa’s biggest refugee population, sheltering more than 1.9 million people.

Most food-insecure

Displaced communities remain among the most food insecure, often losing livelihoods and relying heavily on humanitarian aid that is itself under pressure from shrinking funds.

IGAD’s Executive Secretary, Workneh Gebeyehu, underlined the scale of the crisis, stressing that food insecurity in the region is not just about hunger but reflects broader, interconnected challenges.

“The food situation in the region is more than just a hunger issue, but also a stark reminder of interconnected challenges such as conflict, climate shocks, economic downturns and mass displacement,” he said.

“As IGAD, we strive to bring countries together, strengthen cooperation, and promote resilience, peace, and security. No single institution can tackle these crises on its own. Through collective action, working across governments, regional institutions and partners, we can address the root causes of vulnerability and create lasting solutions for our people.”

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Protect rural livelihoods

FAO Subregional Coordinator for Eastern Africa ad-interim, Farayi Zimudzi, called for urgent measures to protect rural livelihoods.

“As this report shows, the IGAD region continues to face severe food insecurity, and the situation is worsening. Rural agricultural communities are among the worst affected. With another poor rainy season expected in some parts of the region, we must act now to protect rural livelihoods with anticipatory actions,” he said.

“However, anticipatory action alone won’t break the cycle. They must be paired with long-term resilience building and investment in sustainable agriculture to ensure no one is left behind.”

WFP’s Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Eric Perdison, described the situation as unprecedented and alarming.

“The scale of the hunger crisis across the region is deeply alarming, with more people affected than the entire population of many countries elsewhere. In Sudan, famine is already unfolding, and the situation could worsen. While working together to save lives is an immediate priority, we must also build resilience and support communities in standing on their own feet and not being forced to depend on humanitarian assistance for survival,” he said.

The IGAD Regional Focus of the 2025 Global Report on Food Crises, now in its seventh edition, remains a critical resource for understanding the drivers and consequences of worsening food insecurity and malnutrition in the Horn of Africa. It forms part of the broader Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC 2025), produced through a multi-partner, consensus-based process under the Food Security Information Network (FSIN) and the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC).