East Africa Famine 

SOS Children's Villages Responds to Crisis Affecting African Children and Families Affected by Drought and Hunger in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya

East Africa Map - SOS Children's Villages - Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya
In East Africa, SOS operates 13 Children’s Villages and more are planned. Click to enlarge

Over the past 40 years, the staff of SOS Children’s Villages have worked tirelessly in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya. Through droughts, feuding warlords, stray bullets and hunger SOS has maintained its presence in East Africa when many relief organizations were forced to leave. Our focus on helping children -- the defenseless victims of these tragedies -- regardless of politics or religion has allowed us to continue to serve those in greatest need.

During this current crisis, SOS has helped save lives and improve living conditions for approximately 90,000 of the worst-affected victims of the on-going famine.  SOS teams continue to provide medical services, food and water in addition to a variety of family strengthening initiatives to those in greatest need. The challenge now is to address the problem where it is most acute; southern Somalia where 345,000 children remain malnourished. 

How you can help:

Sponsor a child or village in East Africa and help to secure the future for a boy or girl.

Make a donation to SOS Children's Villages so that we can continue to provide assistance to the victims of these conditions throughout the world. 

  • $76 can provide a 1.5 month supply of therapeutic nutritional products to nurse a severely malnourished child back to health
  • $64 can buy a monthly supply of (culturally appropriate) food for a family of six
  • $300 a month can help up to four mothers a day to give birth under the professional care of a trained midwife
  • $1500 can pay the monthly salary of a pediatrician, $2000 can pay the monthly salary of an obstetrician / gynecologist

                    

  


A short video highlighting the dramatic need for assistance in drought-stricken areas. In Ethiopia, Kenya, and war torn Somalia, SOS Children's Villages is providing children and families with medical care and food.

Listen to the Podcast by Ahmed Ibrahim giving an update on the situation in Somalia.

Spread the word to your friends and family about the situation in East Africa and link to our news stories through social media like facebook and twitter.

News Stories and Pictures Surrounding the Situation in East Africa

Ethiopia

Donkey Carts Help Families Recover in Ethiopia

February 1, 2012: It's 4:30 in the afternoon and the local water source from the Shebelle River near Gode town is crowded with children and their donkey carts. Rahmo, 12, and her younger brother finished school earlier and are helping their mother to collect a barrel of water for the family. Learn more about how SOS donkey carts provide relief in Ethiopia...
Medical Services - SOS Children's Villages - Kenya

Supplying Key Medicines to Help Kenya’s Drought Victims

December 14, 2011: Dennis Mwaniki, a new community health nurse, has a lot on his plate. Stationed in the northern Kenyan town of Marsabit for his first nursing job, he finds himself in the middle of a three-year-drought. Read more about medical care in Kenya...
How SOS has Responded to the East Africa Crisis

How SOS has Responded to the East Africa Crisis

December 1, 2011: Since our Emergency Relief Program got underway across the Horn of Africa last July, SOS Children’s Villages has helped save lives and improve living conditions for in excess of 70,000 victims of famine. Relief in East Africa...
Fatuma with her daughter

Life and Death for a Pregnant Mother in Ethiopia

November 30, 2011: Endurance is a way of life for Fatuma, a woman who gave birth to nine children and is pregnant with another. Raised in the hot, arid region of eastern Ethiopia, near Somalia, Fatuma has had to accept whatever life brings. Read about the struggles in Ethiopia...
Rain in Somalia Brings Hope after Months of Drought and Famine

Rain in Somalia Brings Hope after Months of Drought and Famine

November 1, 2011: Continuous heavy rain has not dampened the spirit of thousands of men who are now returning home from crowded camps where they sought refuge after being displaced by East Africa’s worst drought in decades. They leave, assured that SOS Children’s Villages teams across Somalia will continue to assist them and their families, who require on-going life-saving support. Somalia relief and long-term projects...
Images of SOS Responding to the Drought in Ethiopia

Images of SOS Responding to the Drought in Ethiopia

October 31, 2011: Images from Gode Town, Ethiopia, in 2011. SOS operates six Children’s Villages in Ethiopia along with schools, youth facilities, vocational training programs and medical facilities. See the pictures from Ethiopia...
SOS Children's Village Mogadishu

Mentally Disabled Man Rescued from Danger in Mogadishu, Somalia

October 19, 2011: A daring rescue by SOS Children's Villages staff saved the life of Ayanle Abdi Mohamed (29), a mentally disabled man who was feared dead when his home - the local SOS Children's Village - became the front line in a week-long battle between government troops and al-Shabab militants. Reunited with his family...
Mogadishu Village Occupied by Government Forces

Mogadishu Village Occupied by Government Forces

October 13, 2011: Last week, military forces took over the SOS Children’s Village and hospital in Mogadishu, forcing all children, patients and employees to evacuate the grounds. The troops are now occupying the compound, preventing over 500 victims of Somalia’s tragic circumstances from receiving care each day and keeping nearly 100 orphaned children from their long-term homes. Listen to the report...
Mogadishu, Somalia mother with child

Clashes in Mogadishu Evacuate SOS Children's Village

October 11, 2011: Fierce clashes between Somalian government troops and the Al-Shabab group have forced SOS Children’s Villages to remove to safety all SOS children, mothers, staff, hospital personnel, and patients for the first time since 1985. Read about the tense situation...
Drought in East Africa

On the Ground in East Africa with SOS Children's Villages

October 5, 2011: SOS Children's Villages colleague Tommy Standún recently arrived in Marsabit, Kenya and gave his assesment on what the situation is like on the ground. Listen to the podcast and read the account...