The United Nations (UN) has announced and warned Somalia of a possible new famine based on observations, available public reporting and consultations within its networks.
According to the UN, enough data and evidence have been collected to suggest that a significant part of the Somalia population is facing a major food crisis. “We are extremely concerned that the humanitarian system will be too slow to respond, which could lead to the death of many Somalis once again,” the UN stated.
Some researchers further highlighted that the UN cannot be 100 per cent sure that there will be famine in 2022, but there are obvious signs, and given the current circumstances in Somalia, the humanitarian response could be potentially delayed. The UN expects the crisis to worsen, and about 4.6 million people will need food aid by May 2022, as the country has not experienced three consecutive rainy seasons in more than 30 years.
“Shortages of food, water and pasture have already forced 169,000 people from their homes, a number that could rise to 1.4 million within six months,” the UN warned. Adam Abdelmoula, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Somalia revealed that it is an unprecedented disaster that is coming, estimating that 300,000 children under the age of five were at risk of severe malnutrition in the coming months. He further added that “They will die if we don’t help them soon.” The UN appealed for USD 1.5 billion to fund the crisis response.
Mr. Abdelmoula stated that some 7.7 million people, nearly half of Somalia’s population of 15.9 million, will need humanitarian assistance and protection in 2022, a 30% increase in one year. At least seven out of ten Somalis live below the poverty line and the drought has destroyed already precarious sources of income-loss of livestock, reduced harvests-all combined with high inflation.
The Minster of Humanitarian Affairs and Crisis Management, Khadija Diriye mentioned that “The risk is so great that without immediate humanitarian assistance, children, women and men will start to starve in Somalia
However, the Somalia Government has been urged by some Somalia and international researchers to act early and mobilize resources immediately to save lives, protect livelihoods and avoid having to organize an expensive farming response when it is too late.
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