Africa Drought Updates

Good news! Ecumenical News International (ENI) reports that with rainfall and increased humanitarian aid inside Somalia, the movement of migrants into Dadaab, the world's largest refugee complex in Kenya, has greatly declined. In three areas of southern Somalia, those needing relief are now about 250,000, compared to 750,000 three months ago.

Some of the credit for this humanitarian aid achievement can go to ACT Alliance and Canadian Foodgrains Bank, organizations to which the United Church has been sending funds generously donated by United Church members through the church's Horn of Africa Appeal and other channels. Credit is also due to United Church partner the National Council of Churches in Kenya, which has also been working in the Dadaab camp supported by United Church funds.

Still, vigilance is needed.  The situation still remains critical with nearly four million people in the region in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

ENI is based in Geneva, Switzerland and is supported by the World Council of Churches, Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the Conference of European Churches. Read the full ENI press release, “Number of Somali refugees declining due to aid and rainfall.”