13 people among them children succumb to hunger in Mogadishu camp

Thirteen people among them children have died of starvation while others are acutely malnourished in Kahda district in Mogadishu.

Goobjoog News correspondent who visited an IDP camp located in Kahda district reports that the three children died of hunger while ten others perished as a result of malnutrition. Surviving families are now forced to feed on tree leaves with no support in sight.

Sumaya Ahmed a relative of the three children who died told Goobjoog News the situation was dire and that more people especially children are at a risk of death. The children, Sumaya said died after going for days without food.

According to Sumaya, the affected families had moved from Lower Shabelle region following intense military activity. “We moved out because of the fighting and airstrikes in our area,” Sumaya said.

Somalia forces have intensified offensives against Al-Shabaab in Lower Shabelle region as the US ratchets up airstrikes against the militants. The US launched 63 strikes in 2019, an uptick from preceding years.

Abdinasir Hassan Ali, a deputy security official in Kahda district told Goobjoog News the situation was getting out of hand adding there was no help coming in from the government or aid agencies.

Ali said the children succumbed to hunger adding several other people were at the risk of death owing to malnutrition and lack of food.

He added lack of water was one of the biggest challenges facing the residents raising the prospect of disease outbreaks.

An elder who did not wish to be named said children were now forced to eat leaves from trees as there was no food forthcoming.

Kahda district was created in 2015 becoming the newest district in Banaadir region. Residents said the last time they received any food aid was in 2016