The United Nations, (UN) and its partners have appealed for the support of the global community to raise $2.6 billion which will be used in addressing the challenge of drought and famine where Approximately 7.6 million people in Somalia are facing drought and famine this year.
Following five consecutive years of inadequate rainy seasons, which have wreaked havoc on the nation, Somalia is currently experiencing the longest and most severe drought in its history.
Almost half of the population, or 8.25 million people, urgently need protection and life-saving assistance.
They caution that famine is very likely to occur from April to June and beyond if humanitarian aid is not maintained and the upcoming rains are insufficient.
“The efforts of local communities and the scale-up of humanitarian assistance prevented famine thresholds from being surpassed in 2022, but millions of lives remain on the line,” Adam Abdelmoula, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, said in a statement.
The draught, which is also affecting parts of Kenya and Ethiopia, is the worst in four decades.
The Horn of Africa has become hotter and drier due to climate change, and at least 36.4 million people across the region need emergency assistance to survive, according to the UN’s humanitarian affairs agency (OCHA).
In Somalia, more than 1.4 million people have been displaced while at least 3.5 million livestock has died, destroying livelihoods and reducing children’s access to milk.
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“The people of Somalia are paying the price for a climate emergency they did very little to create,” Salah Jama, Deputy Prime Minister in the Federal Government, said.
Although technical famine thresholds have not been reached, OCHA said the situation in Somalia was extremely alarming as prolonged and extreme conditions had led to higher-than-normal deaths.
Meanwhile, amid an anticipated reduction in funding for humanitarian assistance, some 8.3 million Somalis will likely experience acute food insecurity between April and June.
This includes more than 727,000 who are likely to face catastrophic conditions.
Furthermore, about eight million people do not have access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services.
Cholera and measles cases have surged, along with acute malnutrition, while conflict and insecurity continue to drive needs and hamper humanitarian access.
In 2022, aid organisations, local communities and government authorities ramped up response and reached 7.3 million people, but now they are calling for additional resources and unhindered access to those in need.
“The Federal and State governments, local communities and the Somali private sector and diaspora are working with the international community to assist the most vulnerable people in the areas with the highest needs.
“I urge all partners to support these lifesaving efforts,” Jama said.
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator also appealed for more donors to “step up and frontload their support,” warning that any delay in assistance truly is a matter of life or death.
This story was adapted from EnviroNews.
