On the Brink of Famine

Hunger. Starvation. Famine.

Most people reading this will never have to feel extreme hunger or the effects of malnutrition. Neither will our friends or families.

Sadly, this is the harsh reality of life for millions of people who do not have access to adequate water or food.

41 million people globally are at imminent risk of famine. Conflicts, climate change, Covid-19 along with compounded economic shocks are driving the increase of hunger globally.

Video: On the Brink of Famine Emergency Appeal

What is a famine?

A famine is the worst type of food instability, which can be caused by war, economic downturn, crop failure, population imbalance, or government policies.

There are specific criteria that need to be met to determine a hunger crisis. Famine is declared when:

  • 20% of households lack adequate food and other basic needs
  • Acute malnutrition exceeds 30%
  • Death and starvation are evident – by the time a famine is declared, people are already dying from hunger

Famine is threatening the lives and very existence of communities all over the world.

Photo: Ethiopian refugees fleeing from ongoing conflict
Photo: Ethiopian refugees fleeing from ongoing conflict

Islamic Relief is on the ground

Afghanistan

Afghanistan has been ravaged by conflict for decades, political insecurity and a third wave of Covid-19 has left millions of people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. Now drought has left 14 million people facing a food crisis.

South Sudan

South Sudan is facing humanitarian crisis coupled with severe food shortages. The country has been struggling to recover from 5 years of conflict that has killed almost 400,000 people, many communities have been displaced from their homes and unable to cultivate land. With little access to water and food, the situation is getting worse and worse for most of the population.

Ethiopia

More than 5 million people in Ethiopia are at risk of famine, over 2 million people have been displaced from their homes, and thousands have died. The level of hunger faced is catastrophic.

Yemen

Years of conflict, economic decline and the Covid-19 pandemic has devastated Yemen. 16.2 million people in the country have experienced acute food insecurity this year. Almost 2.3 million children under the age of 5 are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition. 400,000 children could die if they do not receive urgent humanitarian assistance and treatment.

Photo: In Yemen 16.2 million people are likely to experience high levels of food insecurity
Photo: In Yemen 16.2 million people are likely to experience high levels of food insecurity

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