After receiving new reports on the humanitarian crisis in Somalia, the UN has warned that over 1 million Somalis currently face starvation. Conditions in Somalia are worsening due to delayed and erratic rains, as well as to trade disruptions that have resulted from military actions against insurgents.
An estimated 1,025,000 people–particularly children–will be “in crisis and emergency” as the food crisis worsens, the UN warned. The number represents a 20 percent increase since the beginning of 2014.
The UN based its assessment on a joint report released by the UN’s Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) and the US-funded Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET).
“Morbidity, poor infant and young child feeding practices and inadequate humanitarian assistance are among the main contributing factors of malnutrition in Somalia,” stated the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Over 40,000 severely malnourished children face even higher risk of morbidity and death, figures included in the report warned.
“The gradual recovery and gains made since the end of the famine in 2012 are being lost as poor rains, conflict, trade disruptions and reduced humanitarian assistance led to a worsening of the food security situation across Somalia,” FAO explained.
Drought has also affected livestock, a major source of nutrition in Somalia.
Conditions in Somalia are expected to continue until October, when Deyr rains should begin.
By Sid Douglas