Situation Report: Greater Horn of Africa Food Insecurity and Health - Grade 3 Emergency — 01 November - 31 December 2023

Overview

• Heavy rains induced by El Nino led to extensive flooding in the Horn of Africa, displacing over 4 million people, damaging infrastructure and affecting human health, with more than 350 fatalities reported (Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia).
• The rainfall decreased towards the end of December 2023 with dry conditions observed in Somalia, eastern Uganda, central to southern Kenya and Ethiopia with a reduced water level in riverbanks. The flood affected areas are facing an increase of cholera, malaria, and dengue fever cases.
• 50.1 million people in the region are food insecure (IPC3+) experiencing crisis levels of acute food insecurity and above; 8.8 million people are in IPC phase 4 and 25,000 in IPC phase 5 (South Sudan).
• Admission trends for severe acute malnutrition have shown a decline in most countries in the region which can be attributed to improved pasture, but is also likely due to a decrease in outreach activities (funding shortages) and the reduced access to health services following the flooding.
• Between January and December 2023, there were over 33% more (154,146) SAM admissions in Somalia, compared to the same period in 2022. SAM admissions in Kenya increased by 32% (39,541) from January to December. In South Sudan SAM admission increased by 4% (9863) between January and December and by 15% (601) in Djibouti between January and October.
• The region is battling multiple disease outbreaks including cholera in four countries, measles and malaria in all seven countries, and dengue fever in Ethiopia, Djibouti, Sudan, and Somalia. Uganda and South Sudan are responding to Anthrax outbreaks.
• South Sudan declared a public health emergency for cVDPV2 on 22 December 2023 after a suspected case test result turned out positive on 7 December 2023.
• A yellow fever outbreak has been declared by the Ministry of Health in South Sudan on 24th December 2023 following a yellow fever case that was reported (on 21 December 2023) from Tambura County. As of 28 December, six cumulative cases (one confirmed and five suspected) have been reported, with two suspected deaths.
• WHO continues to provide support to all seven countries in the Greater Horn of Africa (GHoA) region (Djibouti, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Uganda) in the areas of leadership and coordination, surveillance and health information, outbreak prevention and control, essential nutrition actions, and essential health services.