Analysis of Humanitarian Crises in Somalia and Sudan
Introduction
Somalia and Sudan are currently facing severe food shortages caused by a combination of extreme weather, long-term armed conflict, and unstable global economies.
Main Body
In Somalia, a three-year lack of rain has caused the collapse of the livestock economy. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization reports that the production of maize and sorghum has reached record lows. Furthermore, international aid has dropped significantly, falling from $2.38 billion in 2022 to $531 million in 2025, largely due to budget cuts by the US government. Consequently, the World Food Program has reached only 15% of its target. UNICEF emphasizes that nearly 500,000 children may face severe malnutrition, which is worse than the levels seen in 2011 and 2022. Similarly, Sudan is experiencing a crisis caused by a three-year civil war between the SAF and the RSF. Experts state that about 40% of the population, or 19.5 million people, are suffering from acute hunger. While there is no full famine yet, 14 regions remain at high risk. The conflict has shifted toward the use of drones to attack civilian infrastructure, resulting in at least 880 deaths since January. It is projected that 825,000 children will suffer from severe malnutrition by 2026. Both countries are also affected by tensions in the Middle East involving Iran, which have increased the price of essential imports. Somalia imports 70% of its food, and Sudan relies on the Gulf for over 50% of its fertilizer; therefore, both have seen a rise in the cost of fuel and farming supplies. These economic shocks, combined with internal instability, mean that local people can no longer cope on their own and must rely on decreasing humanitarian aid.
Conclusion
The combination of climate failure, civil war, and global economic instability has created a critical food crisis in both Somalia and Sudan.
Learning
The 'Logic Glue': Moving from Simple to Complex
At the A2 level, you likely use simple connectors like and, but, and because. To reach B2, you need Logical Connectors—words that act as glue to show how two ideas relate to each other.
Look at these three heavy-hitters from the text:
1. The Result-Maker: "Consequently"
- A2 style: The money dropped. So, the program failed.
- B2 style: International aid has dropped significantly; consequently, the World Food Program has reached only 15% of its target.
- Coach's Tip: Use this when the second sentence is a direct, logical result of the first. It sounds more professional than "so."
2. The Addition-Tool: "Furthermore"
- A2 style: Rain stopped. Also, aid dropped.
- B2 style: The production of maize has reached record lows. Furthermore, international aid has dropped significantly.
- Coach's Tip: Don't just say "and" or "also" at the start of a sentence. "Furthermore" tells the reader: "I have another important point to add to my argument."
3. The Bridge: "Therefore"
- A2 style: Food is expensive. That's why people are poor.
- B2 style: Somalia imports 70% of its food... therefore, both have seen a rise in the cost of fuel.
- Coach's Tip: Use this to wrap up a thought process. It signals that you are drawing a conclusion based on the facts you just provided.
Quick Upgrade Table
| Instead of... (A2) | Try using... (B2) | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| And / Also | Furthermore | Adds weight to your evidence |
| So | Consequently | Shows a clear cause-and-effect |
| That's why | Therefore | Creates a formal academic conclusion |