Famine in the Horn of Africa: What you can do to help

Rebeca Grynspan of the UNDP recently stated, "Food aid is a decision between life and death. We have no right to be fatigued." I couldn't agree more.

The famine in the Horn of Africa is now being labeled as "the most severe humanitarian emergency in the world." Little or no rain in the past year has left Somalia, in particular, in dire need of food and emergency supplies. Refugees are leaving by thousands each day to neighboring countries of Kenya and Ethiopia, who are also affected by the drought.

According to UN's OCHA, 11.6 million people are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance in the Horn of Africa region.

REUTERS/Jakob Dall/Danish Red Cross/Handout

SIMON MAINA/AFP/Getty Images

ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP/Getty Images

Aid agencies need help. Many refugees who make it to camps are now facing the reality that there isn't much food there either. Relief organizations estimate that $300 million is needed in the next two months to stop the spread of the famine to surrounding countries.

Below is a list of organizations taking monetary donations to supply the famine victims with medical care and supplies, shelter, and of course, food and water.

Equally as important, spread the word. Use twitter, facebook, linkedin, google+, emails, etc to pass the word along.

UN World Food Programme:
https://www.wfp.org/donate/hornofafrica
*supplies food and water

Save the Children:
http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.7539035/k.B9FB/Africa_Drought_Sparks_Food_Shortage_Child_Hunger_and_Humanitarian_Crisis.htm?msource=weoexchc0711
*supplies food, water, and medicine

UNICEF:
http://www.unicefusa.org/work/emergencies/horn-of-africa/?gclid=CKTynZ-2kKoCFQHu7QoddxOsxw
*supplies food, water, sanitation, and immunization for children

Oxfam International:
http://www.oxfam.org/eastafrica
*supplies water

UNHCR (Refugee agency):
http://www.unhcr.org/emergency/somalia/global_landing.html
*supplies food, shelter, and survival kits

CARE:
http://www.care.org/emergency/Horn-of-Africa-food-poverty-crisis-Dadaab-2011/index.asp
*supplies food and shelter

International Rescue Committee:
https://www.rescue.org/donate/drought_africa