More than 850,000 people face acute food insecurity in Somalia, UN food assessment shows
31 August 2015 – Somalia’s humanitarian situation remains
“alarming” four years after a devastating famine with the number of
people requiring emergency aid rising 17 per cent to more than 850,000
and those in “food-stressed” situations still at 2.3 million, according
to the latest United Nations-managed food assessment study released
today.
“The levels of food insecurity and malnutrition are critical,” said UN
Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Peter de Clercq. “Humanitarian
actors and donors have prevented the situation being a lot worse than it
is, but we all need to do more.”
“The situation among internally displaced people is particularly worrying,” Mr. de Clercq said.
In 2011, Somalia experienced a devastating famine, according to the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Things have since improved, but humanitarian needs remain vast and the
number of people in need of humanitarian assistance continues to
fluctuate around 3 million. The ability to absorb shocks – whether
conflict or natural disasters – is very limited.
According to the Food Security and Nutrition Assessment for Somalia managed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),
“widespread acute malnutrition persists across Somalia and large
numbers of people will be acutely food insecure through December 2015.”
The results of assessment presented today in the Somali capital of
Mogadishu “indicate that the country’s humanitarian situation remains
alarming,” OCHA said.
The latest findings from the joint countrywide seasonal assessment
reveal that some 855,000 people across Somalia will be in ‘crisis and
emergency’ through December 2015.
“This figure represents a 17 per cent increase over the estimate for
February to June 2015,” according to the assessment, while the number of
those in food-stressed situations remained at 2.3 million.
More than two thirds, or 68 per cent, of the people who are in crisis
and emergency are internally displaced and nearly 215,000 children aged
under five are acutely malnourished, of whom almost 40,000 are severely
malnourished and face a high risk of disease and death.
Girls
herding goats in Somalia where in certain areas drought has contributed
to severe water shortages and livestock deaths. Photo: FAO/Simon Maina
herding goats in Somalia where in certain areas drought has contributed
to severe water shortages and livestock deaths. Photo: FAO/Simon Maina
