Eastern Africa faced widespread and severe humanitarian needs in 2024, driven by the impacts of conflict, extreme weather, socio-economic shocks and multiple disease outbreaks, including cholera, measles, mpox and Marburg. Nearly 62 million people faced acute food insecurity (IPC 3 or worse) and were unable to put sufficient food on their tables, with two countries (Sudan and South Sudan) coordinating responses to Catastrophe/Famine food insecurity levels (IPC Phase 5). Forced displacements continued, with more than 20 million people displaced in the region, by November 2024.
UNOCHA reports that over 9.3 million children are expected to suffer from high levels of acute malnutrition between June 2024 and May 2025 in Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.
The region faced weather variations such as droughts and floods, which significantly impacted agricultural production and food availability. By the end of 2024, more than 3 million1 people across the region were affected by floods in Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Uganda. Somalia faced the La Niña phenomenon, leading to drought conditions further exacerbated by conflict in some regions.
Ongoing conflicts disrupted agricultural activities, supply chains, and access to food, exacerbating hunger and malnutrition in affected regions. The conflict in Sudan led to significant humanitarian crises, leaving half of the population facing acute food insecurity (IPC 3+) and displacing over 14 million people, both internally and into neighbouring countries. This has resulted in one of the largest displacements globally and one of the worst hunger crises. WFP has been operating in this challenging environment, facing numerous access constraints that have hindered the delivery of humanitarian assistance. The Sudan conflict had a ripple effect in neighbouring countries, with increased displacements and movement of more than 2 million people into neighbouring countries – South Sudan, Ethiopia, Chad, Uganda, Libya – already facing heightened humanitarian needs and limited resources.
Eastern Africa faced persistent high inflation and rising living costs, driven by fragile macroeconomic conditions, local currency depreciation, and ongoing conflicts. The annual inflation rate averaged 8.3 % in the first quarter but surged to 21.1 % in the second quarter, peaking at 32.4 % in December. South Sudan recorded the highest inflation, exceeding 100 % from midyear, while Sudan’s inflation soared to 187.8 % by the end of the year. Ethiopia and Burundi experienced sustained double-digit inflation throughout the year, with food inflation particularly severe in Burundi (36.9 %) and Ethiopia (18.7 %) by December. The continued depreciation of local currencies across the region contributed to rising import costs, worsening inflation, and economic instability. Conflict-related supply chain disruptions and challenging economic conditions kept food prices unusually high in some countries, particularly Sudan, South Sudan, and Burundi, severely impacting economic access to food. By the end of 2024, food prices in Sudan and South Sudan had surged over 400 % and 200 % respectively, compared to the long-term average, driven by high production and transportation costs.
