Somalia is located between longest and most severe drought in its historyafter five consecutive poor rainy seasons ravaged the country.
generally 8.25 million peoplenearly half of the population, need immediate protection and life-saving assistance.
Live on the line
They warn that famine is a big possibility from April to June and beyond if humanitarian assistance is not maintained and subsequent rainfall is insufficient.
“The efforts of local communities and the scaling up of humanitarian assistance have prevented hunger from crossing the threshold by 2022, but millions of lives remain on the line.” speak Adam Abdelmoula, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Somalia.
The drought, which is also affecting parts of Kenya and Ethiopia, is the worst in four decades.
‘Bargain’
The Horn of Africa has become hotter and drier due to climate changeand at least 36.4 million people across the region need urgent assistance to survive, according to the UN humanitarian agency, OCHA.
In Somalia, more than 1.4 million people were displaced while at least 3.5 million livestock died, destroying livelihoods and reducing children’s access to milk.
“The people of Somalia are paying the price for the climate emergency they have caused so little,” said Salah Jama, Deputy Prime Minister in the Federal Government.
Although the technical famine threshold has not been reached, the OCHA said the situation in Somalia is extremely alarming as extreme and prolonged conditions have resulted in a higher-than-normal number of deaths.
Hunger starts to increase
Meanwhile, with funding for humanitarian assistance projected to decline, some 8.3 million Somalis are likely to suffer high levels of damage. acute food insecurity between April and June.
This includes more than 727,000 people potentially facing dire conditions.
Furthermore, about eight million people do not have access to clean water, sanitation and sanitation services. Cholera and measles cases have increased, along with acute malnutrition, while conflict and insecurity continue to drive demand and hinder humanitarian access.
Step up support
Last year, aid organisations, local communities and government agencies ramped up their response and reached 7.3 million people, but now they are calling for more resources and free access to those who need it. people in need.
“The Federal and State governments, the local community as well as the private sector and the Somali diaspora are working with the international community to support the most vulnerable people in these regions,” said Mr. have the highest demand. “I call on all partners to support these lifesaving efforts.”
The UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator also called for more donors to “step up and support them in advance”, warning that any delay in assistance is really a matter of survival.
“We must also invest in livelihoods, resilience, infrastructure development, climate adaptation and sustainable solutions to Break the cycle he said:
