The lingering impact of the unprecedented 2020–2023 drought, El Niño-driven floods, heightened conflicts and continued macroeconomic instability exacerbated already high levels of acute food insecurity in eight countries across East Africa. Households experienced limited food availability due to decreased agricultural production and constrained financial access to food. Huge numbers of displaced people from the conflict in the Sudan put additional strain on already meagre resources in areas within the country and at its borders.