Somalia Famine

"Landep News"

Somalia Famine

United Nations has officially declared two parts of Somalia in famine as a result of the worst drought in east Africa in 60 years. The humanitarian coordinator for Somalia said on Wednesday that Bakool and Lower Shabelle regions of Somalia meet the standards in order to be declared zones of famine.
He warned that if measures are not taken rapidly, the famine could spread to all eight provinces of Somalia within two months, because of the poor harvests and the outbreak of infectious diseases.
The lack of resources, which includes food, clean water, shelter and health services, makes it almost impossible to help the hundreds of thousands of Somalis in desperate need.
The regions in question are controlled by an Islamic group called al-Shabaab, affiliated to al-Qaeda, who demands now the help of the UN food agencies, but who is also the main responsible for the fact that the food agents could not reach since early 2010 the regions where the people suffered of hunger most.
The UN refugees agency is seeking more assurances from the rebels that the food agencies can send food to the designated areas, so that they should not become refugees.
The drought in the Horn of Africa has put about 11 million people at risk but Somalia seems to be the one who suffered the shock most, given that the drought piles on decades of bloody conflicts.

Somalia Famine

310,000 people are suffering now from acute malnutrition in the country, in what is already construed as the most severe and extended food insecurity situation in the world now.
UN Food Security and Analysis Unit considers that unless the response to the famine is increased, it would engulf all southern regions of Somalia by a month and a half.
UK’s international development secretary said that the fact that famine has been declared represents that the situation is very serious. He added that unfortunately many countries do not respond accordingly to the call for help.

Many Somalis have fled the country and are headed to the neighboring countries like Ethiopia, where a situation is already developing, or Kenya, where 100 tons of tents have been brought by the UN for the refugee camps.

According to the UN, a famine is declared when more than two out of 10,000 people die per day, malnutrition reaches more than 30%, water consumption becomes less than 4 liters a day, and the kilocalories drop to 1,500 a day, compared to the recommended figure of 2,100 a day.

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