The 2011 famine signs on sight, UN in Somalia warns as it calls for scaled up response

A man stares at his dead livestock during the 2011 famine. The UN has warned of early signs of a famine in Somalia. Photo: internet

Somalia is fast falling into a famine and no effort should be spared to avert the crisis as fears of a possible 2011 scenario grip the better of the country, humanitarian agencies in the country have warned.

In response of the deteriorating situation, humanitarian agencies are appealing for $825 million to reach the most vulnerable with lifesaving assistance until June 2017 even as it scales up efforts from drought response to famine prevention.

UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia Peter de Clerq said Monday the window of hope was fast closing as the drought fast transitions into a famine calling for immediate response locally and internationally. He warned there are already signs witnessed shortly before the famine of 2011 was declared.

“The drought situation is deteriorating rapidly. We are at a critical phase and we need to act fast and efficiently to avoid the worst. Accelerated scale-up of assistance is required to avoid a dramatic rise in the number of malnourished children and a spike in mortality similar to that seen in April and May 2011, several months before the last famine was declared in July 2011,” said de Clerq in a statement.

An upwards of 250,000 people died as a result of the 2011 famine and displaced thousands who had to flee the regions to Mogadishu for help. Most of them are still settled in IDP camps to date.

It is critical, de Clerq said that everyone, including the international community, Somalis in-country and in the diaspora, lines up behind the Somali leadership to help prevent another famine. President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo announced this past week quick response from his administration to avert the crisis.

It is now estimated 6.2 million people in the country are in need of humanitarian assistance up from five million in September 2016. Of these, nearly 3 million need urgent life-saving assistance, a drastic increase from 1.1 million six months ago. Children are among the most vulnerable and bear the brunt of the drought. It is expected that 944,000 children will be acutely malnourished this year. As many as 133,000 school going children are at immediate risk of dropping out of school, humanitarian agencies warn.

By scaling up humanitarian response early, humanitarian partners say they intend to treat 200,000 severely malnourished children by June.