Somalia hunger crisis worsens as poor rains, prices bite: UN experts

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Mogadishu: The UN-backed experts said on Thursday that nearly six million people in Somalia are experiencing serious food insecurity as a result of poor rainfall, rising food costs, and dwindling humanitarian supplies. Nearly one-third of Somalia's population is estimated to be affected by crisis-level hunger between April and June of this year, according to a recent assessment by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).

The experts blamed the deteriorating situation on prolonged conflict, displacement, below-average "Gu" seasonal rains, and rising food costs that were partly caused by regional instability in the Middle East.

The research states that 1.9 million people are in the more serious "emergency" stage of food insecurity, which is one sounded below famine, and that around 4.1 million people are in the "crisis" phase.
The IPC issued an alert that if rains continue to fail, food prices keep rising, and humanitarian aid is still scarce, Burhakaba district in southern Somalia may experience starvation.

Reduced international charitable funds and the depreciating Somali currency have also made the crisis worse. Only a small percentage of those in immediate need are now receiving food aid, according to estimates from humanitarian organisations.

Without further financing, the UN World Food Programme has issued a warning that it would have to halt its activities in Somalia by July.

Also, aid agencies cautioned that if conditions worsen this year, around 1.9 million children in Somalia may experience acute malnutrition.

Pic Credit: AFP