Shrinking humanitarian funding risk to food security - report

Napase Galora prepares a meal on an open field where pastoral communities were forced to migrate to in search of pasture and water due to drought in Laisamis, Marsabit, on October 26, 2021 /FILE

A new report warns that the shrinking humanitarian funding and shifting donor priorities will worsen food insecurity as urgent needs continue to outpace available resources.

 “These complex challenges demand coordinated, targeted interventions that address immediate food, health, and WASH needs. At the same time, long-term development and resilience-building efforts must not be overlooked,” the latest report by the Food Security and Nutrition Working Group East and Central Africa Region says.

 The report released July 31 shows that the food and nutrition security situation remains dire in East and Central African countries.

“As of June 2025, about 721,000 are in IPC Phase 5 (famine/catastrophe), 12 million under IPC Phase 4 (emergency), and 29 million in IPC AFI Phase 3 (crisis) in the IGAD countries, and the overall IPC Caseload (10 countries) is 73 million (IPC valid analysis).”

The report shows that the lean season in East and Central Africa is expected to see a sharp deterioration in food security and a rise in malnutrition.

Despite forecasts of average to above-average rainfall, food insecurity will likely worsen in the coming months due to entrenched drivers such as conflict, displacement, economic crises, food inflation, and climate shocks—including the seasonal production deficits.

Improved rainfall may, however, offer limited short-term relief for pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities through better livestock conditions.

The report warns that the protracted and escalating conflicts across the region, combined with widespread displacement and deepening economic crises, are significantly worsening food security and humanitarian conditions.

 It says the shrinking humanitarian space continues to hinder aid delivery, disrupt data collection, and limit assessments critical for informed and timely responses.

Without improved access and coordinated action, the situation is likely to deteriorate further in the months ahead.

The report indicates that 6,587,550 Kenyans are experiencing stress, 2,531,700 are in crisis, 291,650 are in emergency, and 2,823,350 are in crisis or worse.

 All 23 Asal counties are categorised in the ‘normal’ phase. The March-April-May rains have resulted in a notable improvement across key indicators.

 The report says 800,202 children (including 198,166 with severe acute malnutrition) need treatment.

 Some 120,732 pregnant and lactating women are acutely malnourished and need treatment.

 The report says 2.8 million (17%) people are projected to be food insecure.

 Cholera, Mpox, measles and Visceral Leishmaniasis outbreaks are still active in Kenya.

An estimated ready-to-use therapeutic food gap of 19,203 cartons remains (current stock covers through October 2025, excluding buffer).

The report calls for an end to hostilities, protection of civilians and the scaling-up of resource mobilisation to improve food security, nutrition, health, WASH, shelter, livelihoods and protection, among others.

 It also calls for support of local and community-based response systems and scale-up funds to support local responders.

 In May, the UN's World Food Programme warned that refugees in Kenya are at risk of heightened levels of food insecurity as critical funding shortages force the agency to reduce food assistance to the lowest levels ever recorded.

WFP said around 720,000 refugees it supported in Kenya will, from June, receive an in-kind food ration of just 28 per cent, and all cash assistance will halt, unless additional funding is received.

Over the past five years, the number of refugees and asylum seekers in Kenya has increased by over 70 per cent – from around 500,000 to 843,000 – as people have fled conflict and drought in neighbouring countries like Somalia and South Sudan.

But, despite generous support from many donors, growing needs among refugees have outstripped the availability of funds.

“WFP’s operations supporting refugees in Kenya are under immense strain,” said Baimankay Sankoh, WFP’s deputy country director in Kenya.