Book excerpt: As a result of the worst drought in 60 years, regional conflicts, and conflict within states, a humanitarian emergency of massive proportion is unfolding in the Horn of Africa region with more than 13.3 million people affected, 750,000 of whom need food assistance in the near future to avoid death. Somalia has been hardest hit so far, creating population displacement within its borders and a refugee crisis of nearly 1 million people in the region, primarily in Kenya and Ethiopia. The international community is responding, and the humanitarian needs are expected to rise and will likely demand sustained attention. This book provides an overview of the current status of the crisis, a summary of the background on the region, a framework for the international and humanitarian response, and an analysis of some of the operational challenges.