Cameroon: Food Insecurity 2026

Cameroon is facing a deepening food crisis, with 3.3 million people unable to afford enough food as conflict, climate shocks and rising prices push families toward emergency levels of hunger. Food stocks are depleted, leaving children and pregnant women at growing risk of malnutrition. The Cameroon Red Cross Society is scaling up emergency food, cash, nutrition and livelihood support to reach 330,000 of the most vulnerable people. But urgent funding is needed to expand this response. Your donation can make a difference – donate now to help the Cameroon Red Cross provide life-saving assistance.

'This gives us hope': How climate-resilient farming is helping communities in southeastern Zimbabwe reclaim food security in the face of drought and a capricious climate

Uneven rains, unequal impact: Drought and hunger in Northern Kenya. The IFRC and the Kenya Red Cross respond.

Silent humanitarian crises deepen across Lebanon and Iran

Beirut/Tehran/Geneva,26May2026 —Three months since the escalation of hostilities in Lebanon and Iran, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is warning that multiple silent humanitarian crises are deepening across the region — with long-term consequences for health systems, food security, displacement, and community resilience.While international attention has shifted elsewhere, millions of people continue to face displacement, damaged healthcare systems, disrupted livelihoods, andgrowingchallengesto accessing essential services.Ongoing geopolitical tensions and restrictions affecting regional transportation routes, including through the Strait of Hormuz, continue to hinder humanitarian supply chains and increase the cost of delivering aid. “Behind the headlines, multiple silent crises are deepening with consequences that will last for years,”saidCristhian Cardoza, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). “Families are being pushed beyond breaking point — struggling to afford food, medicine, fuel and shelter, while damaged health systems, displacement, and economic pressure continue to drive humanitarian needs higher every day.”Health systems under severe strain in Iran In Iran, the humanitarian consequences of the escalation continue long after the ceasefire. The conflict has seriously disrupted healthcare delivery nationwide, including 56 Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS)centresnationwide. For patients living with chronic illnesses, disruptions to healthcare and medical supply chains are becoming life-threatening.Restrictions affecting transport routescontinue to complicate access to critical medicines and equipment.Despite the pressures, IRCS teams have continued large-scale humanitarian operations across the country, including search and rescue, emergency medical care, and psychosocial support services.Food insecurity deepens across LebanonAnother alarming trend is rapidly emerging:nearly onein four people in Lebanon — around 1.24 million people — are now expected to face acute food insecurity between April and August 2026, according toanalysis from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). The deterioration is being driven by continued hostilities,prolongeddisplacement, economic collapse, and soaring fuel prices. Fuel prices in Lebanon have risen sharply since the escalation, withdiesel increasing by more than65 per cent, according tothe World FoodProgramme.At the same time,the Minister of Agriculture has warnedthatapproximately 22 per cent ofagricultural land in affected areas has been damaged, further undermining food production and livelihoods. Over1 million peoplein thecountryare currently displaced, with manypeople,especiallyfromthesouth,unable to return home due to ongoing hostilities and destroyedinfrastructure,nowliving in tents following the intense recent hostilities. Protectionconcerns and funding gapthreaten humanitarian responseThe IFRC also reiterated urgent concerns over attacks affecting healthcare workers, ambulances, and humanitarian responders.In Iran and Lebanon combined,sixRed Cross and Red Crescent volunteers have been killed while carrying out humanitarian worksince the recent escalation. “Our teams on the ground are clear - what they need above all else is protection,”saidMrCardoza.“These brave staff and volunteers should not have tofear for their lives when they get an emergency call and travel in theirambulances.“Hospitals, ambulances, medical personnel and humanitarian workers mustbe respected and protected.”The IFRC warned that severe funding shortfalls are threatening the continuity of humanitarian operations across the region.“Behind these numbers are real consequences,”continuedMrCardoza.“Operations may need to be scaled back, supplies delayed or cut, and there will be people we cannot reach.”The IFRC’s Emergency Appeal for Iran is currently only four per cent funded, while the Lebanon appealremainsunder 14 per cent funded.The IFRC called on donors and the international community to provide sustained and flexible funding to support emergency operations, recovery efforts, and longer-term humanitarian needs across the region.Spokespeople are available in Beirut,Tehranand Geneva.For more information or to set up an interview contact: [email protected] Geneva:Tommaso DellaLonga,+41 79 708 4367Matthew Carter, +44 7557 802463In Beirut:Mey El Sayegh, +961 03 229 352

Cameroon’s “silent food insecurity crisis” deepens as millions struggle to find food

Yaounde/Nairobi/Geneva – 10 March 2026 — Millions of people in Cameroon are facing a worsening food crisis that is receiving little international attention, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) warned today.A new assessment conducted by the Cameroon Red Cross with support from the IFRC network, surveyed nearly 6,000 households and found that hunger is rapidly increasing.More than 3.3 million people are struggling to find enough food, with families in the country’s Far North, North and East regions already skipping meals, selling livestock or taking on debt just to survive.In some of the worst-affected areas, 64 per cent of households are experiencing severe food insecurity, while food stocks last less than one month.Adesh Tripathee, IFRC Head of Country Cluster Delegation in Yaounde, says:“Cameroon is facing a silent hunger crisis. Families are doing all they can to simply to stay alive. This crisis is not making headlines, but for millions of people it is already an everyday reality.”The Cameroon Red Cross, supported by IFRC and Movement partners, is delivering cash transfers, cereal bank support, agricultural recovery, nutrition activities and community resilience programmes. However, existing resources are insufficient relative to the scale of needs.The IFRC has launched an Emergency Appeal for CHF 9.6 million to support the Cameroon Red Cross in scaling up assistance for the most vulnerable communities. The operation will provide integrated support including cash assistance, food support, livelihood recovery, nutrition services, clean water and sanitation, and protection programmes.The IFRC calls on partners and donors to urgently mobilize resources to protect the most vulnerable communities and prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation.Families at breaking pointThe Red Cross assessment revealed that more than 60 per cent of households are relying on extreme coping strategies, including selling livestock, tools and other productive assets needed to plant crops in the next season.Only five per cent of households still have the capacity to absorb another shock, leaving communities extremely vulnerable to further climate shocks, price increases or conflict.Parents are increasingly sacrificing their own meals so their children can eat.A father from Logone-et-Chari in Cameroon’s Far North region says:“We no longer talk about eating well; we talk about staying alive. First, we sold our goats to buy maize. Then I had to sell my plough so we could eat that evening. Now my wife and I skip food for two days so our children can have a handful of grain.”Children are particularly at risk. The assessment found that eight in ten children are not eating enough nutritious food, putting them at risk of acute malnutrition and long-term developmental harm.Cécile Akama Mfoumou, President of the Cameroon Red Cross, says:“The situation is deteriorating rapidly. Families are exhausting the coping mechanisms available to them. Immediate support is critical to prevent further suffering.”The situation is expected to worsen as the lean season (the period between planting and harvesting crops where food availability is at it’s lowest) arrives earlier than usual, starting in April instead of June, due to exhausted food stocks and reduced harvests caused by floods and erratic rainfall.At the same time, more than 510,000 people are internally displaced, further straining already fragile livelihoods.Although food is still available in many markets, it has become unaffordable for most families.More information To request an interview, contact: [email protected]  In Yaounde:Muriel Atsama Obama, +237 650 610 006In Nairobi: Susan Mbalu, +254 733 827 654In Geneva: Scott Craig, +41 76 370 3575

'Mothers in survival mode' Standing together against Food Insecurity in Cameroon

'Life feels more stable': In Zimbabwe, Red Cross helps farming communities cope with prolonged drought

Rising temperatures and increasingly erratic rainfall have reshaped Zimbabwe’s climate, with droughts now striking every two to three years instead of once a decade. The result: 2.7 million rural Zimbabweans face recurrent food insecurity.As the global climate crisis accelerates, hitting the South earliest and hardest, humanitarian responses are evolving from short-term relief to long-term resilience.“We are now moving from responding to disasters to addressing them proactively and also building the capacities of our communities to be resilient,” says Thulani Sibanda, Provincial Manager withthe Zimbabwe Red Cross Society.That shift underpins the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society’s contribution to the Africa Zero Hunger campaign.Recently launched by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Africa Zero Hunger reframes food security interventions away from episodic relief and toward long-term, community-driven projects.“Our animals are stronger and fetch better prices . . . With the extra income, we can pay school fees and buy inputs for the next season. Life feels more stable now.”Kelias Munkuli, a farmer in Siameja Village, ZimbabweStrengthening livelihoodsZimbabwe’s approach to food insecurity involves several concrete interventions that combine local knowledge, anticipatory action, and practical support.The Climate Smart Resilience Project, rolled out by the Zimbabwe Red Cross in Binga District in Zimbabwe’s Matabeleland North, is one such example.Using El Niño forecasts and satellite data, the Climate Smart Resilience Project team is able to direct specific resources to the right communities before droughts strike.In 2023, when drought conditions worsened, the project focused on livelihood protections like drought-tolerant seed distribution, livestock deworming, and community education.Over 4,000 households received training in climate-smart agriculture along with seed packs, and 2,800 cattle were vaccinated and dewormed.“The quality of cattle and the reduction in deaths in those areas are evident compared to others. We also trained local para-vets to support animal health,” says Thulani.“Communities practicing conservation farming with pearl millet had better yields than other regions. These success stories encourage replication elsewhere.”The farmers who benefited from these interventions have found renewed independence:“Our animals are stronger and fetch better prices,” explains Kelias Munkuli from Siameja Village. “With the extra income, we can pay school fees and buy inputs for the next season. Life feels more stable now.”“With this food assistance, I can save a little money to buy books for my children. It gives me hope that we’ll get through this.”52-year-old Monica Mpande, from Mupambe village, ZimbabweAdapting to changing needsWhen drought conditions worsened again in 2024, focus group discussions held by the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society revealed deep community concerns about children’s well-being, particularly the growing risks of hunger and malnutrition.The school feeding program was launched to make sure that children facing hunger received nutritious, fortified meals that helped them stay healthy and keep attending school. This became a vital lifeline to protect the most vulnerable while longer-term solutions took root.The intervention provided daily Corn Soya Blend (CSB) meals to over 5,378 children. Beyond schools, 3,400 vulnerable families also received life-saving food aid.For 52-year-old Monica Mpande, who lives in Mupambe village, food aid is more than just a meal. It provides parents with the means to prioritise their children’s education.“With this food assistance, I can save a little money to buy books for my children,” she says. “It gives me hope that we’ll get through this.”Looking aheadAs the Africa Zero Hunger campaign grows, collaboration remains central: building durable livelihoods, strengthening community ownership, and ensuring that adaptation strategies are designed with those who know the land best.“Communities are stakeholders, not passive recipients of aid. They’re at the center of our planning, programming, and implementation,” says Thulani.“We are now in a position to apply for early action funds to start community preparedness in the likely events we’re predicting, for instance, drought next year. We can start now by teaching adaptive agricultural practices, like conservation farming.”Join us in ending food insecurity in Africa. Explore the Africa Zero Hunger Campaign, share our stories, and be part of building resilient, self-reliant communities.

Farmers in Kenya fight food insecurity by making their own, low-cost animal feeds

Kenya’s food crisis has deepened, with an estimated 2.8 million people facing severe acute food insecurity in 2025, according to the Global Report on Food Crises 2025. For many farmers in Kenya, the struggle isn’t just about growing food; it’s about keeping their livestock alive when feed prices soar beyond reach.That’s what inspired a group of farmers in Taita Taveta County to start producing their own animal feed: a simple yet powerful idea supported by the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) through its Integrated Food Security and Livelihood (IFSL) Project.“Most Kenyans are practicing subsistence farming,” explains Lucy Sembei, programme manager at the Kenya Red Cross Society.“They may never get to place where farming allows them to meet their economic needs. So at Kenya Red Cross, we took a moment to think strategically about how to better support communities in slow-onset emergencies as well.”Innovation at the grassrootsInitially, the Kenya Red Cross provided poultry feed as part of its emergency relief support. But as drought worsened and feed prices climbed — a 90-kilogram bag of maize reached nearly USD 50 in early 2025 — communities found themselves dependent on aid once again.“As long as they depended on the Red Cross to buy feed, their food security would last only as long as the project. Beyond that, they wouldn’t be able to continue poultry farming,” says Sembei.So, rather than stepping in with another short-term fix, Sembei and her team decided to work with farmers and technical experts to design a lasting solution.Together with the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) and input from the community, the Kenya Red Cross introduced farmers to two game-changing feed ingredients: black soldier fly larvae and azolla, a fast-growing aquatic fern. Both are high in protein, easy to cultivate locally, and require minimal inputs.“[The black soldier fly] is a type of insect that’s extremely rich in protein,” says Sembei. “The eggs produced by hens fed on black soldier flies are far more nutritious than those raised on commercial feed, and the feed itself is cheap and easy for farmers to produce.”Training sessions helped farmers learn how to set up small-scale production systems, using simple materials to cultivate both the larvae and azolla at home. Soon, farmers were experimenting with different feed combinations and sharing their success with neighboring communities.“We went for training and received a donation of 30 chickens. Now I have sixty chickens. I sell eggs, I sell chicks. I can now pay my bills and school fees for my grandchildren.”Jane Mbula, one of the participants in the Kenya Red Cross programmeA meaningful impactThe project has had a meaningful impact on both food security and local livelihoods since its launch in 2021. Now, the 135 farmers supported by the project produce an average of six trays of eggs per month, using them for household consumption and selling the surplus at KSh 450 per tray.Through project-backed innovations, such as egg incubation for chick production and Azolla farming for protein-rich, low-cost feed, farmers have boosted egg yield and quality while cutting commercial feed use from four bags per week to just one in areas like Bura Ndogo and Malukiloriti.One beneficiary, Jane Mbula, explains: “We went for training and received a donation of 30 chickens. Now I have sixty chickens. I sell eggs, I sell chicks. I can now pay my bills and school fees for my grandchildren.”Beyond poultry farming, the project has achieved broad, far-reaching results across Taita Taveta County.So far, 3,405 people have participated; including 600 crop farmers, 2,000 sunflower growers, 80 beekeepers, 300 goat keepers, 40 rabbit farmers, and 150 mothers and 250 youth engaged in nutrition and savings schemes.As Sembei explains: “As we work in this space, our focus is on making food production more affordable for communities. Now that we’re encouraging durable, sustainable solutions, we’re also asking: how can communities produce without having to invest more than they can afford?That’s something we’re doing very deliberately — not on our own, but in close consultation with communities, research institutions, and learning centers across the country. The goal is to identify what’s already within reach, so that communities can continue their work independently, even beyond project funding.”The road to Zero HungerThe Integrated Food Security Project is one of several programs receiving support from the Africa Zero Hunger campaign, recently launched by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).The campaign shines a light on sustainable, community-driven solutions, highlighting the importance of investing in programs that strengthen local resilience and address the root causes of food insecurity across Africa.

Fighting hunger through the power of motherhood and fatherhood

This episode Red Vest podcast takes you on an immersive audio journey to remote villages in northern Nigeria. There, you will meet groups of mothers and fathers who are challenging social norms in order to tackle a severe, persistent hunger crisis and improve the health of their communities. We’ll also introduce you to another very important character known as “Tom Brown.” But you’ll have to listen to the episode to learn how Tom Brown is helping to bring thousands of children back from the brink of severe malnutrition.

New podcast episode: Fighting hunger through the power of motherhood and fatherhood

Somalia: IFRC launches CHF 25 million appeal as drought deepens humanitarian crisis

Nairobi, 7 October 2025— The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched an emergency appeal for 25 million Swiss francs to help the Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS) respond to a worsening humanitarian crisis that has left millions struggling for survival amid failed rains, food shortages, and collapsing local systems.Naemi Heita, IFRC Head of Delegation, Nairobi Country Cluster for Kenya and Somalia, said:“This climate-driven drought is deepening an already complex humanitarian crisis, stripping communities of water, food, and fodder. SRCS volunteers remain on the frontlines, committed to helping their neighbours.”A crisis that’s far from seasonalSomalia remains one of the world’s most complex humanitarian contexts, shaped by decades of conflict, economic fragility and climate extremes.The country is grappling with the aftermath of its worst drought in 40 years and catastrophic floods in 2023. The failedGurains (April – June) triggered new drought declarations, while forecasts warn thatDeyrrains (October – December) will also fall short. More than 2.5 million people are facing severe shortages of food, water and essential services.Health centres are closing, displacement is rising, and community coping mechanisms – once a vital safety net – are now at a breaking point. Some communities have been relying on sharing scarce resources, migrating in search of water and pasture, selling livestock, and reducing meals, but these strategies are no longer enough.After years of recurring droughts and limited recovery time, these traditional safety nets are collapsing, leaving families with no options and in urgent need of sustained, life-saving support.Local responders on the frontlinesDespite insecurity, damaged roads and shrinking funds, the Somali Red Crescent Society continues to reach those most in need.With over 1,000 staff and 20,000 volunteers across 18 branches, SRCS provides health care, clean water, sanitation, shelter, and food support, often in areas inaccessible to others. In 2024 alone, SRCS reached 1.2 million people, demonstrating its unmatched community reach and trust.Yusuf Hassan, President, Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS), said:“This appeal is an urgent call to the international community to help sustain life-saving operations, as communities exhaust their final coping strategies and essential services scale down. We must act now to protect lives, save livelihoods, and offer a chance for recovery and hope.”Scaling up the responseThe IFRC emergency appeal will enable the Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS) to scale up life-saving and early recovery efforts across the country. This includes restoring clean water, improving sanitation, supporting food and livelihood recovery, and delivering essential health and nutrition services.All activities will integrate protection, gender, and inclusion to ensure communities are supported safely and with dignity. The IFRC and SRCS are urging donors, governments, and partners to stand with the people of Somalia and help close the growing funding gap.Note to editors:Audiovisual materials of the emergency response are available for download.For more information or to request an interview, please contact:[email protected] Nairobi:SRCS:Abdulkadir Afi:+254 725 687 768IFRC:Timothy Maina:+254 110 848 161 Susan Mbalu:+254 733 827 654In Geneva:Tommaso Della Longa:+41 79 708 43 67 Nora Peter:+36 70 953 7709

Africa Zero Hunger campaign: The post-aid approach to food insecurity

Food insecurity is an escalating crisis on the African continent. Many of its most vulnerable people are reliant on emergency aid, which does little to address the systemic causes of widespread hunger.For Pierre Kremer, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Regional office, Deputy Regional Director, the Africa Zero Hunger campaign represents something completely different: a shift from short-term fixes to investment in long-term solutions.Solutions backed by local knowledgeWith 48 Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, more than 16,000 local branches, and more than 16 million volunteers deeply embedded in communities, Kremer and his colleagues have a unique vantage point on how hunger is lived and solved in Africa.When Kremer talks about tackling food insecurity, he doesn’t start with aid shipments or top-down plans. He starts with people.“The goal is to give a voice to communities that are well placed to ‘engineer’ or co-create solutions to meet their multifaceted needs based on their local knowledge,” he explains.In this way, the Africa Zero Hunger campaign represents a “solutions bank”, a growing collection of proven, community-led initiatives that show what works against food insecurity on the ground. From livestock sharing schemes in Rwanda to Mother’s Clubs in Nigeria, these solutions are practical, replicable, and already changing lives.“This campaign reflects a post-aid approach, focusing on durable solutions generated by the impacted communities themselves,” says Kremer.Building a coalition of the willingBut for these local solutions to move beyond a single village or district, they need more than recognition. They need investment, partnerships, and political will.“The objective is to create a coalition of the willing, from local communities to national governments and global actors, working alongside African institutions, the private sector, and UN agencies to ramp up efforts toward Zero Hunger,” Kremer explains.The first phase of the campaign is already underway, with case studies, media assets, and community stories being documented across six priority countries: Kenya, Ethiopia, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria.The mid-term plan is to expand this into an online multi-agency platform. This digital hub would act as the home of the solutions bank, a space where the National Societies can deposit solutions, and where donors, investors, and partners can connect directly with them.What’s missing is not ideas, but the support to take them further. Creating a bank of solutions offers a ready-made platform for governments, donors, and partners to back what works, directly at community level. For Kremer, this will allow us to move beyond aid and build the foundations for lasting food security across Africa.Ways to get involvedYou can help take community-led solutions from one community to many. Donors can support Africa Zero Hunger directly and help turn local solutions into wider change. And if giving isn’t an option, you can still make an impact by sharing these stories, sparking conversations, and adding your voice to the call for Zero Hunger in Africa.Join the Zero Hunger Campaign:Africa Zero Hunger: United for durable solutionsConfronting alarming food insecurity trends in Africa: An expert’s viewFrom short-term aid to long-term strength: Launching Africa Zero Hunger

Africa Zero Hunger: The empowering journey of Mtakuja's women farmers

In the quiet, sunbaked landscape of Mtakuja Village in Taita Taveta County, Kenya, farming has always posed significant challenges. The heat is often extreme, the soil dry, and the rains delayed for months. Yet, amid these challenges, a spirit of resilience is flourishing.At the heart of this transformation are women such as Margaret, a farmer and mother whose calm, steady voice carries the weight of years of hard work. Not long ago, each day was filled with worry. Buying food often meant borrowing money she could not repay, and repeated crop failures left her efforts feeling futile.The turning point came when she and a local Friends Women Group she is part of received support through the Integrated Food Security Project established by the Kenya Red Cross Society.The project works with over 1,000 farmers, who receive training and support in a variety of agricultural specialisations — including gala goats, poultry, apiculture, horticulture, sunflower, and vegetables.In the case of Margaret’s group, the programme gave each of the eight women members a female goat, while the group shared a he-goat for breeding. What seemed like a modest gift became the foundation for a more resilient livelihood.“Being part of the Friends Women Group has really helped me. It has given me a sense of belonging and support,” she says. “I am able to share ideas with my fellow members, and I always feel encouraged to keep pushing forward even when challenges come.”By breeding their goats, Margaret soon became the proud owner of eight healthy animals. From this herd, she now provides fresh milk for her family and occasionally sells some to buy sugar or soap. “I enjoy my goat milk with each cup of tea I sip,”she says with a smile, her pride unmistakable.From struggles to smart savingsThe Integrated Food Security Project is one of many initiatives supported by the Africa Zero Hunger campaign, recently launched by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).This campaign champions community-led durable solutions and calls for urgent investment in sustainable programmes that harness local resilience to tackle the root causes of food insecurity across the continent.In this case, donations to the Africa Zero Hunger campaign would help the Kenya Red Cross expand the project to reach more farmers and extend its impact into other drought-affected areas, turning a proven solution into a wider movement for food security.Projects like this work best alongside other community-based microeconomic initiatives that empower local farmers. In Margaret’s case, for example, she joined a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA), where she learned how to save, borrow small loans, and invest wisely. With her earnings, she began farming kale in her compound. Thanks to water conservation techniques she learned through the programme, her small garden remains green even when water is scarce.“Through using improved kale seeds, together with the training I went through, I have gained the knowledge and skills to take better care of my crops. These practices have made my farming more productive,” she explains.Resilience through every challengeEarlier this year, Margaret faced a painful setback when elephants invaded Mtakuja and destroyed her entire kale garden in a single night. The loss was a harsh reminder of the ongoing human-wildlife conflict in the region. Yet, she refused to be defeated. Determined, she set her sights on replanting and rebuilding with even greater resolve.Today, Margaret’s home is alive with hope. Rows of kale once again line her compound, while the gentle sound of goats fills the air. A small bucket of milk often sits beside freshly harvested vegetables. Every scene tells a story of effort, perseverance, and renewal.This spirit of change is spreading across Mtakuja. Through the VSLA model and the solidarity within the Friends Women Group, more women are saving, investing, and securing a better future for their families.Now, the Integrated Food Security Project has reached around 1,500 farmers in total. Among them, about 350 farmers are keeping goats, while poultry farmers have been trained to use solarized incubators to scale up egg production and to produce sustainable poultry feeds for both consumption and sale.Those who grow sunflowers, many from rain-fed areas, are preparing to benefit from a new sunflower oil processing plant, which will add value to their harvests and boost their incomes.Margaret no longer lives under the shadow of food insecurity. Her children, now grown, have joined her in farming, caring for goats and crops, turning agriculture into a shared family strength. The women here are no longer only farmers. They are pillars of resilience and progress in their community.Story and photos by Gidraph Mbugua GitemaGet involved and make a difference:Join the Zero Hunger Campaign and help vulnerable communities on a path to resilience.

The Papas’ Club: In Nigeria, fathers break down barriers to fight hunger

From short-term aid to long-term strength: Launching Africa Zero Hunger

On 19 August 2025, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) officially launched the Africa Zero Hunger: United for Durable Solutionscampaign — a bold, Africa-wide movement to change the way we respond to food insecurity.Moderated by award-winning journalist Victoria Rubadiri, the virtual launch brought together policymakers, humanitarian leaders, grassroots innovators, and partners who share a common vision: a future where the communities hardest hit by food security can become part of the solution. Click here to watch the official launch of the Africa Zero Hunger campaign and hear experts discuss what durable, community-led solutions look like in action.Why Now?The numbers are staggering. Over 282 million people are undernourished in Sub-Saharan Africa, almost one-third of the world’s food-insecure population. In 2024 alone, 173 million people faced acute food insecurity or worse, with women and children disproportionately affected.This is not simply the result of bad harvests or temporary crises. It is the outcome of deep-rooted, structural challenges: climate shocks, violent conflict, displacement, and fragile food and social protection systems.But the crisis also presents an opportunity. It’s a chance to reset the humanitarian approach. Traditional aid models are struggling to leave a lasting impact, yet across Africa, communities are already designing, leading, and scaling solutions that work. The Zero Hunger Campaign aims to accelerate and replicate those efforts.Watch this video to learn more about the ongoing hunger emergency unfolding across AfricaWhat makes this campaign differentThe IFRC and its network of 191 National Societies, including more than 16 million volunteers globally, are uniquely positioned to bridge local knowledge and large-scale impact."It represents a turning point,” said Pierre Kremer, Deputy Regional Director, IFRC Africa. “It’s moving from short-term food aid to lasting, community-driven change. For Africa, it’s a rallying call to end hunger by harnessing local ingenuity, climate-smart practices, and sustainable livelihoods."From mothers’ clubs in Nigeria that reduce malnutrition at a fraction of the cost of traditional aid programs, to integrated food and livelihoods initiatives in Kenya that combine climate-smart farming with savings and health programs — the proof is already on the ground.The launch of the Zero Hunger Campaign is just the first step. Over the coming months, we will be publishing a regular newsletter that will bring you:Progress updates from the six launch countries: Kenya, Ethiopia, DRC, Mali, Nigeria, and ZimbabweSpotlights on local innovators — from women farmers to youth climate activists to volunteers on the groundEvidence and impact stories, showing how durable solutions are transforming livesOpportunities to get involvedSign up for the newsletter by clicking here.Our goal? To reach 60 million vulnerable people in 15 countries by 2030 and to prove that durable, locally-led solutions can be scaled sustainably.This is Africa’s moment to lead, but durable change requires collective action from governments, donors, private sector investors, civil society, media, and the African diaspora.Join us. Share the vision. Invest in durable solutions.Visit the campaign website to learn more, explore stories, and get involved.

From seeds to strength: How Rwanda’s Model Villages offer a pathway to resilience

On any given morning in Rwanda’s Mukindo Sector, Gisagara District, you’ll hear goats bleating from their pens, while chickens peck at the dusty paths between homes.Just beyond the fields, a group of women gather beneath a tree. They have come together to record the latest births in the village’s livestock-sharing programme — a system where each family that receives an animal passes its first offspring to a neighbour in need.Moments like these reflect a growing movement in Rwanda: the “Model Village”, an ambitious Rwanda Red Cross programme that empowers vulnerable communities to work together to become more resilient to chronic poverty and increasingly severe bouts of food insecurity.The goal is to help local towns and villages become replicable models for sustainable, local development, food production, and livelihoods.For Emmanuel Ntakirutimana, head of the Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (PMER) Department, Rwanda Red Cross, the model villages represent a much-needed holistic approach to Africa’s food insecurity crisis.“In general, you see that developmental programmes are lacking substantial funding,” he said. “People will fund things like emergency response, rather than supporting communities to meet their needs consistently, which strengthens their capacities to mitigate risk.”The risk Ntakirutimana mentions here is growing. Across Africa, climate change is disrupting planting seasons and shrinking harvests. Conflict displaces millions from their land. Rising prices make even basic staples unaffordable for vulnerable families. And while emergency food aid can save lives in the short term, it often leaves the underlying causes of food insecurity untouched, meaning communities remain just one disaster event away from crisis.As it stands, Africa faces its most severe hunger crisis in decades. Over 282 million people, more than one in five, are affected. From drought-stricken Southern Africa to famine-threatened communities in the East, the challenge is vast, but not insurmountable.Established in 2008, the Model Village is one of the initiatives through which the Rwanda Red Cross provides support to vulnerable communities, aiming to help them lift themselves out of poverty through collective participation under the slogan, “Duhuze Imbaraga Twiyubaka,” or “Our Strength, Our Development.”It involves partnership with community leaders and local authorities who work together to plan and implement interventions like livestock sharing, improved housing, and clean water access, while also educating families on hygiene and equipping them to sustain these practices themselves.“This approach is key to ensuring that communities are given not only ownership of the solution, but the self-confidence to face challenges head-on,” explains Ntakirutimana.“We want to build people’s capacity to withstand the hazards affecting them as they sustain themselves,” he said. “So when you invest in preparedness, as you build this within the community, there will be fewer response needs. By the time a disaster hits, people will already have ways to respond effectively to the risk.”Rooted in community, designed for scaleA Model Village begins with spotting potential opportunities within a vulnerable community, whether it’s a reliable water source, proximity to a connecting road, or the drive of a committed local leader.From there, Red Cross Society volunteers, already trusted members of the community, step in to provide targeted support. For instance, Béatrice, a 42-year-old farmer and mother to six children in Gihombo Sector, Nyamasheke District, was able to learn better hygiene practices through the programme, access to safe drinking water, and an opportunity to earn an income.“I received a pig which reproduced well and provided me with a source of income. I rented a plot of land where I grow vegetables. I also do other small income-generating activities,” said Béatrice.“The increase in our income and savings, as well as everything the Red Cross has implemented in our community, is just the visible part of the iceberg. What really matters to us is that we have regained our dignity.”According to Ntakirutimana, one of the most important parts of a Model Village is ensuring communities gain the self-confidence to lead their own development. The Red Cross’ role is temporary: to support until local skills and resilience are strong enough for the community to sustain and grow its own solutions.“We want to see the role of the community increase as we support them,” added Ntakirutimana. “Up to where we can say that the ownership of the activities is 90 per cent in the hands of the community. Once they’re in the driving seat, it means you have built the sustainability of the intervention.”In successful Model Villages, community leaders become role models, and community members spread their resilience strategies to their neighbours. This strong sense of ownership is what makes the Model Village approach so easy to replicate. It builds on values already central to African life, particularly the tradition of solidarity.Working together on shared goals strengthens bonds of trust and mutual support, while creating a culture of problem-solving that lasts well beyond the initial project.Just as importantly, success in one village is usually shared with neighbouring communities, sparking a ripple effect of change. In this way, each Model Village becomes both a blueprint and a source of inspiration, helping others adapt the model to their own realities and accelerating the spread of durable, locally-led solutions.Across Rwanda, the Model Village approach is already transforming lives in tangible ways. Like Béatrice, who, along with her village co-operative, has learned how to produce and sellbriquettes made from organic waste.Hygiene has also improved dramatically, with villages adopting safe water practices and better sanitation facilities, reducing the spread of disease. Young people are stepping forward as active participants, contributing energy and fresh ideas to community projects. Women, too, are taking on greater leadership roles, driving initiatives such as communal gardening, savings groups, farming associations or cooperatives, and small-scale enterprises.These successes don’t just improve day-to-day life; they build the skills, confidence, and structures needed to keep progress growing long after the initial support has ended.“Listen to the communities. Listen to their wishes,” Ntakirutimana advised. “We listen to what they see as priorities, and then facilitate the process.”Securing the next chapter of the Model Village initiativeThe Model Village initiative is just one of the locally driven, lasting solutions supported by the recently launched Zero Hunger campaign. Driven by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the campaign calls for urgent investment in sustainable, community-led programmes that address the root causes of food insecurity across the continent.By amplifying proven approaches like Rwanda’s Model Villages, the Africa Zero Hunger campaign aims to inspire governments, partners, and donors to shift from short-term relief to long-term resilience, ensuring that communities are equipped to withstand future crises and thrive.Get involved:Join the Zero Hunger Campaign and help vulnerable communities on a path to resilience.More articles about the Africa Zero Hunger campaign:Confronting alarming food insecurity trends in Africa: An expert’s viewFrom short-term aid to long-term strength: Launching Africa Zero Hunger

Confronting alarming food insecurity trends in Africa: An expert’s view

Africa faces its most severe hunger crisis in decades. As of July 2025, over 282 million people, more than one in five, are affected, with entire regions pushed to the brink by climate shocks, economic instability, and conflict. From drought-stricken Southern Africa to famine-threatened communities in the East, the challenge is vast, but not insurmountable.As Gilbert Phiri, senior coordinator for the Africa region Zero Hunger Initiative at IFRC, explains, ending hunger will take more than emergency aid. It will require durable, community-led solutions designed to withstand future crises and empower people to feed themselves for generations to come.In this conversation, Gilbert shares the latest hunger trends across Africa, what makes a solution durable, and why community ownership is essential for scaling sustainable change.Understanding the crisisQ: What are the most critical hunger and malnutrition trends you’re seeing across Africa in 2025?A: Africa’s hunger and malnutrition crisis is growing more acute in 2025, propelled by interlinked climate, economic, and conflict-related shocks. Without immediate and coordinated global action, including investment in resilient food systems and targeted humanitarian aid, millions more are at risk of chronic hunger and life-threatening malnutrition.The most critical hunger and malnutrition trends across Africa in 2025 are deeply concerning, with indicators worsening in multiple regions despite some global improvements.Q: Could you highlight regional differences or hotspots?A: Almost no region is untouched:InWestandCentral Africa, over 52 million people face hunger during the 2025 lean season—an all-time high.Southern Africa: Countries like Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, and Namibia are seeing up to 40 per cent of their populations in acute food insecurity due to drought, floods, and economic shocks.East Africa: Over 69 million people face acute food insecurity, half of the continent’s total undernourished population, according to the March 2025 update of the Food Security and Nutrition Working Group (FSNWG).Two other key Africa-wide analyses, from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification and the Global Report on Food Crises 2025 add that over 85 million people are highly food insecure in the East and Horn of Africa (including Sudan and South Sudan).In some countries, one in three children is malnourished. Somalia has the highest rates, but Chad, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, and Guinea-Bissau also exceed 30 per cent undernourishment.Q: What do recent statistics reveal about the scale of the crisis?A: As of July 2025, more than 307 million Africans—over 20 per cent of the continent’s population—are affected by hunger. Childhood stunting averages 30.7 per cent across Africa, with wasting (insufficient weight relative to a child’s age) at 6 per cent.In some countries, one in three children is malnourished. Somalia has the highest rates, but Chad, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, and Guinea-Bissau also exceed 30 per cent undernourishment.But addressing this crisis isn’t just about recognizing the scale of the need. A core aspect of the Zero Hunger Campaign is rethinking the way we respond to food insecurity.Defining durable solutionsQ: Durable solutions to addressing hunger can mean different things in different contexts. From your perspective, what are some of the core characteristics or principles that make a food security intervention ‘durable’?A: Durable solutions are those that are sustainable, systemic, and capable of withstanding future shocks induced by either conflict, climate change, or economic instability.Durable solutions require coordination, innovation, and inclusivity when addressing the root causes of hunger. They also build individual, community and agency resilience to food insecurity.Durable solutions must be:Sustainable and systemic – able to withstand future climate, conflict, and economic shocks.Locally led and scalable – driven by communities, designed for replication.Integrated – combining agriculture, social protection, and market access.Focused on livelihoods – diversifying income and building resilience.Q: How do these differ from short-term aid?A: Short-term aid saves lives in emergencies, but it’s temporary. Durable solutions tackle root causes, empower communities, and build systems that last. They combine health, education, agriculture, and economic development so that people can feed themselves year after year.An example of a project we’ve successfully replicated is the Village Model. In this project, households work together with support from the IFRC to improve food security, livelihoods, and resilience through shared resources, skills, and mutual support.Q: What makes durable solutions so impactful in these contexts?A: The attributes of a durable solution make it possible to transfer core methodologies and principles from one setting to another, adapting as needed for local success.An example of a project we’ve successfully replicated is the Village Model. In this project, households work together with support from the IFRC to improve food security, livelihoods, and resilience through shared resources, skills, and mutual support.By combining sustainable agriculture, savings groups, and social cohesion, it creates self-reliant villages capable of withstanding future shocks.Q: How important is community ownership when it comes to the success of these interventions?A: Community ownership and involvement are absolutely central to making zero hunger solutions both durable and scalable. When people design, manage, and adapt solutions themselves, they last longer and spread faster.In Rwanda, community-managed livestock schemes flourished because members reinvested in each other. In Nigeria, men began supporting mothers’ clubs after seeing tangible benefits for their households.Community-led approaches naturally foster replication and scale because they build confidence, local skills, and social structures that can extend successful models to new groups or regions. Strong community buy-in ensures that innovations are embraced, adapted, and promoted by local champions, creating a multiplier effect.What needs to happen nextQ: What support is most urgently needed to scale durable, community-led solutions?A:There is a significant financing gap—estimates indicate an additional $21–77 billion per year from public sources and much more from private sector investment is needed for food systems transformation in Africa.Current financial flows are insufficient to bridge this gap and reach all communities in need. Community-led models need multi-year, stable funding—not just short-term, crisis-driven aid—to allow them to take root, expand, and demonstrate impact over time.Other than that, we need enabling regulations, stronger government–community coordination, and expanded social protection programs, as well as training in climate-smart agriculture, organizational strengthening, and access to innovation and technology.The shift in thinking we hope to inspire all partners and stakeholders should move from asking: 'How can we feed people today?' to asking: 'How can we ensure people can feed themselves next year—and every year thereafter?'Q: If there’s one message for donors and partners, what is it?A: Sustainable, community-led solutions—not short-term fixes—are the only way to end hunger, and they require long-term, flexible investment and enabling policies to thrive.Too often, hunger responses rely on crisis-driven, one-off aid. While essential in emergencies, these don’t dismantle the root causes—poverty, fragile food systems, inequitable access to resources, and climate shocks.Durable, locally rooted approaches have already proven they can work, but they remain under-resourced and constrained by rigid funding cycles or policy barriers.The shift in thinking we hope to inspire all partners and stakeholders should move from asking:“How can we feed people today?”to asking:“How can we ensure people can feed themselves next year—and every year thereafter?”Join us in ending food insecurity in Africa. Explore the Africa Zero Hunger Campaign, share our stories, and be part of building resilient, self-reliant communities.

From grain to gain: A story of women’s empowerment and food security in Cameroon

At first glance, Kartoua may seem like any other rural village in the Mayo-Danay division. But this border community, vulnerable to seasonal floods and food insecurity, has become the stage for a quiet revolution led by women.Twelve women came together to form the Soubota Common Initiative Group (GIC). Their mission: to fight food scarcity by creating a cereal bank that buys millet and rice at low prices after harvest, stores them, and resells them during the lean season at affordable, community-friendly rates.“When we started, many didn’t believe in us, especially the men,” says Ahmadou Sergeline, a mother of nine, farmer, and president of the Soubota women’s cereal bank. “But over time, as they saw how we were helping the village, everything changed. Even my husband now supports and advises me.”From scarcity to sustainable strategy“When the floods hit, millet became impossible to find,” Sergeline recalls. “But thanks to the Red Cross support, we had 20 sacks ready. Every morning, women would line up with small bowls, buying just enough to feed their children.”The support came at a crucial time. The Cameroon Red Cross provided the women’s group with 20 bags of millet, along with training in stock management and basic accounting.“Before, we didn’t keep proper records. Now we have ledgers for everything — what comes in, what goes out, and what belongs to whom. People even entrust us with their own cereal bags, which we store safely for a small fee.”Equity first: feeding the most vulnerable“We made rules to protect the poorest,” explains Sergeline. “We limited purchases to four measures per household, and we refused to sell to wealthier buyers just looking for bargains. We know our community. We know who truly needs help.”Grains are sold directly at the warehouse, always below market prices. This solidarity pricing ensured that widows, the elderly, and female-headed households could make it through the lean season with dignity.The initial stock was only the beginning. Revenues from the first sales were used to purchase 45 new sacks of rice, allowing the cycle to continue. After sharing the dividends from the sales, the group decided to reinvest all profits into the next round of cereal purchases.“We put everything back into stock because we saw that demand was even higher than expected,” Sergeline explains.Normally, profits would be transparently allocated to different committees responsible for various activities:50 per cent to the management committee (day-to-day running of the GIC),30 per cent to the community hygiene committee,20 per cent to cereal restocking.But in a strong show of collective responsibility, the entire committee agreed to reinvest their shares, strengthening the group’s next cycle.More than grain: a space for growth and leadershipCereal banks like the one in Kartoua are one of many initiatives supported by the Programmatic Partnership between the IFRC network and the European Union. The partnership provides strategic, flexible, predictable, and long-term funding, so that National Societies can act before a crisis or health emergency occurs. It is being implemented in 24 countries around the world.In this case, the Cameroon Red Cross also works alongside the Soubota Common Initiative Group to support their activities, with the French Red Cross teams also working as an implementing partner.For Sergeline and the women of Kartoua, the cereal bank has become a safe space — a platform to learn, grow, and lead.“When we meet, we don’t just talk about millet. We talk about running our households, educating our daughters, strengthening our marriages. I have seven girls. I want them to see that women can lead too.”The training and engagement provided by Red Cross teams empowered the women not only technically, but also emotionally and socially.“They didn’t just bring us grain. They brought us respect. They listened to us. They saw us not as beneficiaries, but as partners.”“It wasn’t just food. It was dignity,” adds Marie, a grandmother who bought grain from the cereal bank during the lean season. “I didn’t have to beg. I bought what I could afford, and I fed my grandchildren.”“We are asking for more support,” Sergeline says. “Not just for us, but for the whole village. The needs are huge. But the solution is here — it just needs to be strengthened.”Her dream is clear: to ensure that no family goes hungry during the next flood or lean season. In the hands of women like Sergeline, a sack of millet becomes a shield against hunger, a symbol of dignity, and a seed for the future.

IFRC launches Zero Hunger Campaign to drive durable food security across Africa 

Nairobi, Kenya, 19 August 2025–The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has officially launched its Africa Zero Hunger: United for Durable Solutionscampaign, marking a bold step toward redefining the fight against hunger in Africa.The campaign was unveiled today, 19 August 2025, during a virtual event moderated by award-winning journalist Victoria Rubadiri, bringing together African leaders, humanitarian actors, and community innovators from across the continent.Its mission: to move beyond short-term aid and invest in durable, community-led solutions that strengthen local systems, adapt to climate and conflict, and deliver lasting, resilient change.A systemic crisis, a collective opportunityAcross sub-Saharan Africa,over 282 million people are undernourished — almost one-third of the world’s food-insecure population. In 2024 alone, 173 million people faced acute food insecurity or worse, with women and children bearing the heaviest burden.This crisis stems from deep-rooted structural drivers — climate shocks, conflict, displacement, and weak food and social protection systems. But it also presents a historic opportunity to reset how we respond.The Zero Hunger Campaign: United for Durable Solutions calls for a shift away from short-term aid toward community-led, African-owned solutions that build long-term resilience."It represents a turning point,” said Pierre Kremer, Deputy Regional Director, IFRC Africa. “It’s moving from short-term food aid to lasting, community-driven change. For Africa, it’s a rallying call to end hunger by harnessing local ingenuity, climate-smart practices, and sustainable livelihoods."Durable solutions, African leadershipLaunched in Kenya, Ethiopia, DRC, Mali, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe, the campaign is grounded in SDG 2, the AU’s Agenda 2063, and the Malabo Declaration. It aims to reach 60 million vulnerable people in 15 countries by 2030.The Zero Hunger Campaign will channel investment into:Climate-smart agriculture & ecosystem restorationAccess to finance and marketsCommunity-led social protectionWomen and youth-led cooperativesIntegrated food, health, and nutrition systemsFrom launch to actionThe IFRC is driving this transformation through its network of African National Societies and more than one million community-based Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers. These volunteers, embedded in local systems and trusted by their communities, are helping scale proven, locally designed approaches to food security.What’s nextThe launch may be complete, but the mission has only just begun: the IFRC is calling on governments, donors, the private sector, civil society, media, and the African diaspora to help expand and replicate these solutions.The campaign’s message is clear: Zero Hunger starts with us.Spread the word and follow campaign updates:https://bit.ly/AfricaZeroHunger For more information or to request an interview, please contact:[email protected] get involved, please contact:[email protected] Nairobi:Susan Nzisa Mbalu: +254 733 827 654In Geneva:Tommaso Della Longa: +41 79 708 43 67Hannah Copeland: +44 7535316633

Africa Zero Hunger: United for durable solutions

Over 282 million people across the continent are undernourished, and Sub-Saharan Africa alone accounts for nearly one-third of global food insecurity.The IFRC Network, in partnership with governments, donors and community leaders, aims to scale community-driven, climate-smart solutions to fight hunger at the source.Together, we can break the cycle and ensure that Africa moves closer to zero hunger.

'A child belongs to the community': Mothers take the lead in fight against hunger in northern Nigeria

Nigeria: Acute malnutrition 

Two million children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition in Nigeria, with only 20 per cent receiving nutritional and other treatments they desperately need. Acute malnutrition is now contributing to nearly half of child deaths under five in the affected areas. The North-East and North-West regions are hardest hit, with millions of children and pregnant women facing malnutrition due to poor food access, unsafe water, and the secondary effects of ongoing conflict. The Nigerian Red Cross Society is on the ground providing vital health, nutrition, and protection services, but urgent funding is needed to scale up their efforts.

IFRC Emergency Appeal launched as Afghan returnee crisis escalates

Kabul/Kuala Lumpur/Geneva, 2 May 2025 – Nearly one million Afghans have made the challenging journey back to Afghanistan from Pakistan in the last 18 months, with almost 145,000 people returning this month alone – a massive eight times more than in February.Upon return, many of these people are confronted with dire conditions, including overcrowded temporary shelters accommodating up to 4 families in one tent. The unprecedented increase in people returning in a short time (an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 people crossing borders daily) is placing immense strain on Afghanistan’s already fragile healthcare system, essential services and food stocks.Initially, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) allocated 750,000 Swiss Francs from its Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) in delivering urgently needed shelter, emergency healthcare, food, and water—basic resources that are now in short supply.Given the scale and gravity of this escalating and intensifying crisis, however, the IFRC is now launching a comprehensive Emergency Appeal, aiming to raise 25 million Swiss francs in order to deliver vital lifesaving aid over the next two years, covering support for recovery and reintegration including income generation activities, vocational training and cash-for-work opportunities.The appeal funds will be funneled to the most at-risk and vulnerable returnees, including pregnant women, unaccompanied children, the elderly, those with disabilities, and families lacking shelter. The aim is to mitigate threats such as gender-based violence, malnutrition, and social marginalization— and to ensure that vital assistance reaches those in greatest need.The humanitarian challenges facing returnees are profound and heartbreaking. Many have sacrificed their livelihoods, belongings, and stability in Pakistan, only to face overwhelming difficulties upon their return to Afghanistan. Children, already more at risk, are suffering from malnutrition and urgently require specialized care and nutritional support. In many cases, families have been torn apart during their migration journey, leaving individuals stranded and desperate to reconnect.Salima*, a mother who gave birth to her baby at Spin Boldak Crossing Point in Kandahar while on the move, said:“My children were born in Pakistan and don’t have any form of identification. I don’t know how or where to obtain ID cards for them. Their education has already been delayed significantly, and I don’t know how to enroll them in schools here in Afghanistan. We have no shelter in Kabul or Baghlan. We don’t know where to go or how to meet our daily needs.”Beyond immediate relief, we must act decisively to provide long-term support that empowers people to rebuild their lives, gain access to education, secure livelihoods, and reintegrate into their communities in Afghanistan.Mawlawi Sheikh Shahabuddin Delawar, Acting President of the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), makes a heartfelt plea for swift action:“Returnees are facing insurmountable challenges—many have lost their homes, livelihoods, and loved ones along their journey. Women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities are particularly vulnerable, and ensuring their safety and dignity must be our highest priority. Through this emergency response, we are dedicated to delivering lifesaving aid now and providing sustainable support that respects their dignity as they work to rebuild their lives.”Ahmed Suliman, the interim IFRC Head of Delegation in Afghanistan, highlighted the urgency of the situation:“This crisis is evolving at an alarming pace, and its impact will resonate with millions of already vulnerable people. Our immediate focus is on delivering essential aid—food, healthcare, and shelter—to those in desperate need. Simultaneously, we are committed to partnering closely with ARCS, Red Cross and Crescent Movement partners and other stakeholders to create long-term solutions that enable returnees to restore their lives and heal from this crisis.”The IFRC urgently calls upon the international community, partners, and donors to unite in support of Afghans during this critical juncture. Your contribution to the Emergency Appeal can make a life-changing difference, ensuring that those who are returning or displaced have the opportunity to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity.*name has been changed to protect identityFor more information or to request an interview, please contact: [email protected]   Pictures and AV material can be found here.In Afghanistan:  Sayed Eshaq Muqbel: +93 70 733 6040 In Kuala Lumpur: Afrhill Rances: +60 19 271 3641 In Geneva: Hannah Copeland: +41 76 236 91 09

Afghanistan: Population movement (returnees)

Since September 2023, nearly one million Afghans, including over 118,400 in April 2025 alone, have returned from Pakistan following the implementation of the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan. A further 1.5 million people are estimated to be affected or at risk in the months ahead. As they arrive in communities already strained by poverty, food insecurity, and limited healthcare, urgent support is needed to help them rebuild their lives safely and with dignity.Your donation will help the Afghan Red Crescent Society provide vital support to returnees and the communities that host them.

‘I know what it takes to experience that level of vulnerability’ – IFRC’s new regional director for Africa talks about the challenges ahead 

What does it take to manage humanitarian crisis response for a massive continent dealing with a wide range of challenges – conflict, mass population movements, epidemics, tropical storms, drought and a widespread hunger crisis. Find out how IFRC’s new regional director for Africa, Charles Businge, plans to tackle these challenges and how his upbringing in Uganda shaped him for the task ahead. “I have seen war and fighting between different armed groups and I have worked in similar contexts,” he tells us. “So, I am committed to supporting people who faced these kinds of vulnerabilities, because I know what it takes to experience that level of vulnerability.”