In the morning newspaper and on the nightly news, the images from the Horn of Africa now coming into your home are hard to ignore. You can tell this time it’s more than hungry children, more than people fighting, more than just a headline. This is a famine.

A family at the Dadaab refugee camp

More than 11 million people in the Horn of Africa are now in need of humanitarian assistance, and that number could rise. We could find a metaphor to put the number in perspective –- it’s equivalent to the population of this city or that state -– but still the magnitude of need would be incomprehensible. And at the epicenter of this regional crisis lies the famine in southern Somalia.

Aerial view of the Dolo Ado refugee camp.

This, however, is bigger than a call for immediate relief. We’re urging you to help realize a vision of long-term food security. We can’t control weather patterns and ensure drought won’t happen again, but we can build resiliency community by community. Without preparations and long-term programs, the numbers currently in desperate need of food assistance could have been drastically higher. Indeed, in the Horn of Africa, it was the two factors we couldn’t fight — high food prices in the region and restricted humanitarian access in Somalia –- that pushed families over the edge.

Collaborating with other government agencies and NGOs, two key innovations helped us stay on the pulse of this emerging crisis to ensure we had infrastructure in place to respond. The USAID-funded Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET) uses cutting-edge analysis and experts in the field to pinpoint emerging food insecurity. Through FEWSNET, we learned in November 2010 that due to the La Nina weather pattern, the October to December and February rains would be poor, and that East Africa should begin planning for a food crisis. This critical and timely information set in motion our disaster response.

Additionally, much as you wouldn’t travel to a new city without a map, WFP uses Vulnerability Assessment Mapping (VAM) to map out need and response before developing an operation. VAM helps us answer critical questions, like “Who is vulnerable?” and “Who will become hungry if crisis hits?” in the complex arithmetic of planning an operation.

Developing these networks of connectivity and communication made our Horn of Africa response possible. Our long-term food security programs, however, were just as vital. Before the crisis hit, we had already helped many communities begin to support themselves, even in times of drought.

For example, with 7.75 million participants, the Ethiopian government-led, WFP-supported Protective Safety Net Program tasks small-scale farmers with community development projects in exchange for predictable cash and food transfers. It’s one of the most comprehensive and large-scale programs of its kind: it gives those living on the edge of poverty and hunger the support they need so they don’t fall into full-blown emergency when disaster hits. That’s nearly 8 million people who are better-equipped to respond and survive when the next drought hits.

By purchasing food locally we invest in small-scale farmers and connect them to reliable markets. The result is greater agriculture production and improved business capacity. Between 2010 and 2011, nearly 25,000 metric tons of maize were purchased locally in support of the Ethiopian safety net program alone. Even in our Horn of Africa crisis response, when much of the region suffers from this severe drought, we’re using regionally-procured food to save lives.

What’s clear is that if we invest critical time and funds into programs like these now, we can change the face of disaster response. After the crisis point of the drought ebbs and the Horn of Africa fades from the headlines, we’ll still be there putting infrastructure in place so that the livelihoods of small-scale farmers don’t hinge on a season or two of rainfall. We know too well that this story doesn’t stop when the refugees check into Dadaab and receive their rations.

With poverty and hunger felt so sharply in our own communities here in the US, we understand the instinct to focus on problems closer to home. Hunger, however, knows no borders. This time you can’t change the channel. Hunger won’t stop when the drought ends unless we act.

To find out how you can help with WFP’s Horn of Africa emergency response, please go to https://www.wfp.org/hornofafrica.

-Ali Goldstein, World Food Programme

On a recent visit to Delmas 32, a neighborhood in the heart of Port-au-Prince, I had the opportunity to see Haitians rebuilding their country and their lives firsthand. Here, at one of the 30 food-for-work and cash-for-work projects financed by World Food Programme (WFP), I meet Cassandre Chery, a would-be beautician-turned-rubble remover.

It’s got to be tough digging with a shovel under the hot sun, but Cassandre, 28, is glad to have work. As the mother of two who has been homeless since the earthquake, she is now able to pay school fees and feed her two daughters.

Joining Cassandre are more than 200 men and women who are motivated to clear the rubble from the streets and the plots they used to call their homes in the hopes of one day soon being able to return.

When the earthquake struck, Cassandre was relatively fortunate. She only broke her foot, but not much was salvageable from the ruins of their house.

She explains how tough it’s been.“My husband used to get work as a security guard but he hasn’t had any jobs since the earthquake. Sometimes the girls have gone hungry but usually I’ve been able to borrow enough food from neighbors. When this job came along, it made a big difference.”

The government of Haiti estimates the earthquake produced more than 20 million tons of rubble, that’s enough to fill 1.2 million trucks full, if only this country had the road network and infrastructure to move things.

While there’s a lot of work to be done and the removal of the debris will take years, street by street and building by building, teams like Cassandre’s are making a difference –- and earning some useful money to feed and take care of themselves.

Martin Kabaluapa working with a local farmer in Kenya.

As the Purchase for Progress (P4P) Coordinator in Kenya, I tour the country to see how the World Food Programme (WFP) can use its purchasing power to promote agricultural development and improve market access for small-scale farmers.

At the heart of our efforts is a straightforward concept: supporting nations to grow their own food to feed their own people. The opportunities are great. Almost 80 percent of the nearly $1 billion of food WFP buys each year comes from developing countries (See an interactive map of where WFP buys food here). In the past three years alone, we have purchased more than $500 million worth of food from East Africa, a place that is sadly better known for its droughts than its surpluses. Can you imagine if a substantial amount of this money was going into the pockets of small-scale farmers working on an acre or so of land?

On a recent trip to Mwala, an agricultural district 60 miles from Kenya’s capital Nairobi, I met with farmers, both men and women, to explain how P4P works. The enthusiasm is palpable and now I need to figure out how to best support them to meet our international food standards while maintaining competitive prices.

Here in Mwala, we scout out potential collection points that would keep the food safe and dry — and believe me, the solutions often require creative thinking. A smaller, well-maintained building close to the farms would not be reachable by large trucks. The proposed solution: use smaller vehicles to collect the food. Another option is a strategically located hotel that is still in use. The proposed solution: empty the furniture for the harvest season!

Once a storage solution is found, the real business of helping farmers get to a position of selling their food to bigger and better markets begins. With government and NGO partners, we train them on everything from planting and harvesting techniques to marketing and negotiation skills. This is invaluable as it allows them to produce and store the food and represent themselves professionally when dealing with buyers.

For more personal stories like these, visit the Living Proof website, and be sure to celebrate the proof with friends and family, too.

-Martin Kabaluapa, P4P coordinator, Kenya

UN official Mark Bowden claims that accusations of aid diversions in to the Shabab– who the US government has labeled a terrorist group– are unfounded. The US for its part contends that aid is indeed being diverted, leaving the Shabab to blame for Somalis not getting the aid they need.

You’ll recall that early last month that threats from the Shabab proved to be a serious impediment to the World Food Programme who then had to implement a partial suspension of food distribution in much of southern Somalia.

We’ll keep you posted on any developments.

Marking the 1-month anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the World Food Programme hosted a meeting in Rome this morning to discuss and plan “Haitian-led food security”.

The meeting was convened by Haitian Agriculture Minister Joanas Gue. Cheryl Mills represented the State Department.

I’m in the process of tracking down video from the event– when I find it, I’ll post it here. In the meantime, get the latest on WFP’s work in Haiti at their excellent website here, and check out the State Department’s DipNote blog for some background here.

According to CNN:

The food distribution plan, coordinated by the United Nations World Food Programme, international aid agencies and the Haitian government, was to hand out food at 16 identified points across the city. But on Sunday, people at only nine of those places were able to collect, Prior said.

More time was needed to prepare ration coupons at five sites, Prior said. The other two distribution points, located in the dense slum of Cite Soleil, were a no-go for security reasons.

“The area has been extremely volatile recently with a significant increase in gang violence, but we are hopeful we will be able to reach them soon,” he said.

Distribution was orderly elsewhere, Prior said.

Only women were given tickets to collect a 55 pound (25 kilogram) bag of rice per family. Forty-two metric tons of rice will be distributed each day over the next two weeks.

At Champs de Mars, the city’s central plaza which has turned into a sprawling makeshift camp for the quake displaced, women formed a long line that snaked up to trucks carrying the rice.

Since the devastating earthquake struck Haiti on January 12th, the World Food Programme (WFP) has been delivering emergency food assistance to survivors. But help hasn’t just been on the ground. Students from around the world—the workers, parents, voters, and leaders of tomorrow— have been stepping up to help fight the hunger crisis in Haiti. Find out how you can join them here.

As Executive Director Josette Sheeran noted on Friday from Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s devastated infrastructure has made emergency operations extremely challenging.

“This is the most complex operation WFP has ever been involved in. That’s why opening up the supply chain is so critical,” said Sheeran.

She also noted that the UN food agency is bringing in special boats that will be able to transport humanitarian aid by sea and land directly onto beaches.

“This operation is getting up to scale, but we’re having to rebuild ports and airports.”

WFP began distributing food assistance within 24 hours of the earthquake and has launched a $279 million relief operation to reach 2 million Haitians. They’re also helping to provide logistical and telecommunications support to the entire humanitarian community.

Since the earthquake struck, WFP has delivered 3 million rations, the equivalent of nearly 10 million meals, to nearly 450,000 people. WFP aims to deliver 5-day rations to 100,000 people each day.

-Graham Bell, WFP Youth Outreach

Here are a few highlights from our lunchtime Q&A:

• So what’s the UN’s role in Haiti? To act as a central coordinator—for all major UN agencies (including UNICEF and World Food Programme), the International Federation of Red and Red Crescent, as well as global NGOs and countries around the world. To help coordinate the humanitarian assistance, the UN agencies and other standing invitees (World Bank, InterAction) work together in clusters (distinct teams with clear responsibilities), making sure that information on the ground gets shared, needs are being met, areas aren’t getting missed and duplication isn’t an issue.
• Sir John reminded us that the scale of the emergency is huge—which means you need a huge humanitarian response. And what a response he’s seen. He said in all the years he’s been doing this type of work, he’s not sure he’s ever witnessed such a large mobilization effort. He said everyone is of course frustrated at how long things take, but this is a classic relief situation: a massive effort that takes some time.
• Logistically, things are turning a corner. Aid is getting out more rapidly—a half a million people have been given food, there’s greater access to water, and search and rescue is winding down. At least 5 field hospitals are up and running, and the port should be ready to go in the next few days. The banking system has collapsed, but a few cash points should be up and limping by today. Airport traffic is also flowing more smoothly. While the US is in control of logistics at the airport, the UN is helping to advise and prioritize flights in and out, with the top priority at the moment going to medical relief teams.
• Aid workers are making the best with what’s available. There’s a massive shortage of office space, so people are finding a nook wherever they can. In many cases, they’re sleeping like sardines on the floor or the ground outside. There is some food and water available and no showers. Workers are mostly just living on what they’ve brought with them.
• Sir John said that while the UN is focused on immediate relief at the moment, they’re hoping to start thinking more long-term, beginning with a cash-for-work program. People would get paid to help clear rubble, provide basic services and repairs, start building houses. He said this is something the UN has done before, but they’d like to do it on an even greater scale. He said they’re committed to making sure that we turn this dreadful disaster into something better, even more sustainable for Haiti.

To listen to the full news briefing, check out this post from the UN Dispatch and look for the video player at the bottom.

American Red Cross
Read a situation report from President and CEO Gail McGovern.

AmeriCares
Chief of Staff Carol Shattuck recounts her experience on AmeriCares first emergency airlift to help Haiti with earthquake and humanitarian relief.

CARE
A story from the field by Rick Perera.

Catholic Relief Services
CRS turns a golf course into a relief camp in Port-au-Prince.

Concern Worldwide
Program Officer Susan Finucane offers a video update of Concern’s work on the ground in Port-au-Prince.

Leon H. Sullivan Foundation
“In the aftermath of the largest earthquake to hit the Caribbean nation of Haiti in more than two centuries, the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation has initiated a relief effort to help meet the population’s immediate needs and participate in long-term efforts to restore normalcy to a country plagued by natural disasters.

“To merely replace the unsound buildings and feed people temporarily will not be enough. My organization is working on projects to help Haiti and its people become more self-sufficient over the long term,” said Hope Masters, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Sullivan Foundation. “We who have so much must never forget to help those who have so little.”

Mercy Corps
Cassandra Nelson, Director of Multimedia Projects, talks with CNN.

Oxfam America
A blog update from staff member Coco McCabe on the ground in San Juan. Also, a video on distributing water in Haiti.

Partners in Health
An on-the-ground update from Dr. Evan Lyon, who has been working at the general hospital in Port-au-Prince since Saturday.

Physicians for Peace
A blog update and photos from Dr. Lisbet Hanson in Haiti. Also, Physicians for Peace will be holding a collection drive in Norfolk, VA this Saturday.

Save the Children
Save the Children sets up child friendly spaces in Haiti.

TransAfrica Forum
An online resource for the latest news on the earthquake and its aftermath. TransAfrica Forum also held a candlelight vigil at the Haitian Embassy in Washington DC earlier this afternoon.

World Food Programme
“Within the next week, we aim to move the equivalent of 10 million ready-to-eat meals so that people whose homes have been destroyed, and who have no access to cooking facilities, can feed their families,” said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran. “We are also procuring 4.2 million rations of supplementary ready-to-use foods specifically designed to give children the calories and nutrition they need each day.”

American Red Cross:
“We are humbled and thankful for the outpouring of support from our blog visitors offering their services to help those in need in Haiti. We committed $200,000 last night, and increased that amount this morning to $1 million.”

AmeriCares:
“AmeriCares is sending $3 million worth of medical aid to survivors of yesterday’s deadly, 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Haiti from our Stamford warehouse. Disaster relief modules stocked with emergency medicines and medical supplies valued at $2 million have been deployed from the Amsterdam warehouse.”

Bread for the World:
An extensive list of where and how to help earthquake victims.

Catholic Relief Services:
“In the Dominican Republic, the country that shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, CRS is preparing 10,000 packages, each containing food and water for a family of five. The first 500 are scheduled to be delivered to Port-au-Prince on Friday. Today four CRS staff members are traveling by bus from the Dominican Republic to Port-au-Prince as CRS begins to increase our presence in Haiti to respond to this unprecedented disaster. CRS has committed an initial $5 million (US) to help survivors of the devastating quake.”

Episcopal Relief and Development:
View a video statement by Presiding Bishop and President of Episcopal Relief & Development.

FEED:
In 2009, WFP School Feeding reached over 400,000 Haitian children in 850 primary schools. FEED is working to maintain WFP School Feeding in Haiti during this critical time.

International Relief & Development:
IRD, a specialist in disaster response and emergency relief operations, has mobilized an emergency response team to Haiti. IRD will focus on the provision of emergency commodities, such as water, sanitation kits, medicines, hygiene kits, and shelter materials.

Islamic Relief:
Islamic Relief USA announced that it will immediately fly a $1 million shipment of aid to Haiti.

Jubilee USA:
Jubilee USA is calling on the Obama administration to take 3 specific steps as part of its comprehensive response to the Haiti earthquake.

Mercy Corps:
A blog post showing satellite images from Port-au-Prince.

Oxfam International:
A six-strong team of Oxfam emergency specialists has been dispatched to Haiti from the UK today to assist the 200 staff who were already stationed in Haiti when the earthquake hit on Tuesday.

Partners in Health:
On the ground reports from staff in Haiti.

Save the Children:
An interview with President and CEO Charles MacCormack.

World Food Programme:
“A WFP food distribution reached 3,000 people in the southern town of Jacmel on Wednesday and, despite logistical difficulties, more distributions were planned for Thursday in three areas of Port-au-Prince with high a population concentration.”

World Vision:
“On Thursday, World Vision will rush 18 metric tons of lifesaving supplies from its warehouse in Denver to Haiti, which was hit by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake Tuesday that affected some 3 million people. Thursday’s shipment will include tarpaulins for temporary shelter, blankets, collapsible water containers, hygiene kits, and cooking sets.” Also, click here to watch an interview with Laura Blank, Media Relations Manager at World Vision.

Yele Haiti:
Wyclef Jean’s nonprofit organization, Yele Haiti, has raised over $1 million for the victims of Tuesday’s devastating earthquake from mobile donations.