Telling the ECSA Story

2018 will be a hard year for all affected by the drought in Somalia. All indications show that the drought will not get any better and may push the situation towards famine. Rains between October – December 2017 were expected to bring relief to millions of people in Somalia. Unfortunately, the rains were not good. This was the fourth consecutive failed rainy season. While large-scale famine has been averted in 2017, the humanitarian impact of the drought has been devastating. 5.4 million people, close to half of the population, are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection.  “Things are not looking good. We have had another failed harvest season and a poor rain season. This has pushed the cost of living higher and families are struggling to put at least a meal on the table daily. Our efforts should be focused on ensuring that we do not have a famine” explained Saeed Arshe Ahmed – Care Somalia’s Head of Office in Bossaso, Puntland. On 5th December 2017, Puntland

More than 14,000 refugees, the large majority women and children, have fled the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to Uganda since December 18 th 2017, following increased conflict, according to figures from Government of Uganda and UNHCR, said agency CARE International. Most refugees arrive through the Bunagana border point in Kisoro district, South Western Uganda but some even brave the dangerous waters of Lake Albert to escape the even greater dangers in DRC. The majority of refugees are children (54%).  CARE International staff who conducted a rapid assessment last week explain that while initially more women sought refuge in Uganda, more men have started to arrive in the last week. Many men are still trapped in the DRC, and droves have been executed by the armed gangs for trying to leave the country. Delphine Pinault, CARE Uganda Country Director, said: “The use of sexual violence against women and girls in DRC must stop. The world cannot stand and continue to watch