The worst humanitarian crisis the world has seen this century continues to escalate in the Horn of Africa, where more than 13 million people are in urgent need of lifesaving humanitarian assistance. Women and children in affected areas of Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti and Somalia are especially vulnerable.

The crisis is a combined result of two consecutive years of drought, increasing food prices, and underdevelopment plus – especially in Somalia – poor governance, conflict, insecurity and limited humanitarian access.

According to officials, the outlook for the coming months depends on the performance of the October-December rains, and the effectiveness of ongoing humanitarian interventions. While the current rains bring the hope of harvests in March and April, they have been so heavy at times that they have disrupted the delivery of aid; led to the deaths of livestock that most families depend on for their livelihoods; and caused flooding that may result in a large outbreak of waterborne disease.

Lives are at stake! And we cannot solely rely on nature to fix the problem. We must develop a comprehensive plan to address global hunger, especially for the most vulnerable: women, young children and the elderly.

The United States can help create a world where no one goes hungry. Please act now to support a comprehensive U.S. plan to end global hunger!