UN warn of looming famine in Southern Somalia
The Somalia Food Security and Nutrition analysis report has indicated concrete indications that famine will occur in two areas in the Bay region (Baidoa and Burhakaba districts) in South-Central Somalia between October and December of this year.
Through the report Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths sounded a warning that the situation and trends resemble those seen in 2010-2011, in that crisis.
“Except now they are worse. The unprecedented failure of four consecutive rainy seasons, decades of conflict, mass displacement, severe economic issues are pushing many people to that brink of famine. And these conditions are likely to last through to at least March 2023,” he said.
The worst drought in four decades is anticipated to last longer.
“This is a humanitarian crisis, to use those overused phrases, and nowhere is that more accurate than right now. We know that the needs will grow. The message that we are hearing from this report and that we are seeing in this country and that we are witnessing in the hospitals and the sites of displacement – and it is no doubt worse in the places of origin of those displaced – this message is urgent,” Griffiths said.
He further noted there is a need to invest despite the urgent requirement for lifesaving assistance for the people.
“We will see more of tomorrow – and talk about and investigate and acquire support for sustainable solutions so that we don’t find ourselves, yet again [in the same situation] – this is the third time in the last ten years, and maybe the worst time if we are unlucky. This means taking health services to where people are, back to those hard-to-reach areas. It means better water and sanitation structure,” he said.
A similar tragedy unfolded in Banadir, not far from here in Mogadishu where Griffiths visited the local hospital with exceptional medical staff, both Government and non-Government, and these medical teams are struggling to keep up with the rush of emaciated children who seek treatment.
