I am writing to you to share my concern for mothers like Bijay in Somalia.
Right now, millions of people across East Africa are facing extreme hunger as a result of climate change, conflict and the global cost of living crisis. It is estimated that one person is likely dying every 36 seconds due to severe hunger and malnutrition in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia.
Bijay is living in a displacement camp. She was forced to leave her home in Baidoa with her two-and-a-half-year-old malnourished daughter after their cattle were wiped out by the drought.
"We could not farm. We live in hardship and face many challenges. Our children are languishing in hunger and sickness. This is my daughter and she has been sick for two months. I don't have the means to take her to hospital."
Extreme weather and violent conflict have destroyed the food sources and income of millions, meaning food is hard to access. Persistent droughts and severe flooding caused by climate change are fuelling the crisis further, factors that have been further compounded by the conflict in Ukraine, which has disrupted the supply of much-needed grain, cooking oil, and fuel. As a result, people are often forced to go days - sometimes weeks - without eating. It is feared that famine will be declared in both South Sudan and Somalia in the coming months unless urgent action is taken.
If we don't invest in resilience to climate-induced hunger, women like Bijay will continue to struggle to provide for their children. We must go above and beyond to break the cycle of drought and hunger.
I believe the UK must urgently step up to help stop this injustice before we begin seeing the widespread impacts of famine. This isn't about choosing between helping people at home, or those in other countries. We can, and must, do both.
I look forward to hearing what you are doing to raise this crisis up the political agenda.
