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More famine expected in Somalia

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Somalia remains at the epicentre of the East African food crisis as famine in the country is expected to spread to four more regions.

Famine has already hit 6 regions in Somalia - including the capital, Mogadishu – and now the UN expects it to reach Gedo, Juba, Middle Shabelle and Hiraan.  

“We are really concerned about what’s happening in Somalia right now. Parts of the country are already ravaged by famine and now it looks like more of the country is going to be affected”, said Islamic Relief.

750,000 people face death, while 4 million Somalis are already food insecure.

The south of the country is the most affected during this crisis, with 3 million people in need of emergency food aid.

190,000 children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition while 450,000 are malnourished and in Mogadishu the child mortality rate is well above the famine threshold.

“The child mortality rate is alarmingly high. The famine threshold is 2 deaths each day for every 10,000 people. In Somalia we are seeing15.43 deaths occurring each day - the figures are unbelievable,” added Islamic Relief.

Somalia is the most severely affected country during what is the worst drought to hit East Africa in 60 years, with over 13.3 million people affected.

Conditions are expected to improve in Ethiopia and Kenya, according to the UN, as improved rains are forecast for most of Eastern Africa. But the situation in Somalia looks set to get worse.

“We are working hard in Somalia. We recently distributed 5,000 food packs in Daynile Corridor and thousands of people have received medical care”, added Islamic Relief.

“But we still need more donations to help tackle this massive humanitarian disaster”.