In 2018 one of the worst droughts in decades hit western Afghanistan, bringing devastation for thousands of farmers across the country. Crops failed, livelihoods were destroyed, and many people were forced to leave their homes.

With 20 million people at risk of hunger in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, the IRC is on the ground providing essential support to those in need.

Meet the people on the frontlines of the devastating crisis.

In parts of the world droughts can be fatal. Learn how we can support those most impacted.

After a year of severe drought, flash floods have killed at least 77 people and destroyed thousands of homes in Afghanistan.

As a pastoralist, Anfac’s main source of income and food for her family came from raising healthy livestock. However, three consecutive years of drought in Ethiopia completely upended her life, causing all of her livestock to perish and leaving her family without any food to eat. “We were just pastoralists, and now we have nothing to live on,” says Anfac. In East Africa, which is heavily dependent on agro-pastoral activities, the prolonged and severe drought has decimated livelihoods. 6.8 million livestock have died in Ethiopia alone, forcing people like Anfac and her family to leave their homes and seek food assistance.

Somalia now ranks at the top of the International Rescue Committee’s Emergency Watchlist. Here are five reasons why the country could face the world’s worst crisis in 2023.

Five reasons why Ethiopia is at risk of worsening humanitarian crisis in 2023.