East Africa's humanitarian needs may increase

Significance

While South Sudan is one of the world's most alarming humanitarian crises, East Africa has a history of protracted and severe emergencies. Beyond the human and societal costs, these disasters influence the politics and economies of the region.

Impacts

• Climate change may prolong and exacerbate food insecurity emergencies.
• Efforts to draw in non-traditional donors (eg, Gulf States and China) could challenge existing models of international assistance.
• Countries with large agro-pastoralist populations will be at higher risk of natural disasters in the coming years.
• Contentious upcoming elections in the DRC and Kenya could increase regional displacement.