UK announces $10m to reach 500,000 starving Somalis

GOOBJOOG NEWS|NAIROBI: A new UK funding will cushion about half a million Somalis from hunger as the country faces a vicious drought that has plunged more than half of population into food crisis.
UK Minister for Africa Vicky Ford announced Monday additional $10.7 million to reach 500,000 Somalis who are facing hunger. The funds will go towards water and cash-based support to help improve health and food security conditions, and limit displacement linked to worsening drought conditions.
The funding is part of $22 million meant for Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan and Ethiopia all of which have large populations facing acute food shortages.
“For countries in East Africa, climate change is not a future problem – it is driving a humanitarian emergency right now,” Ford said. “Catastrophic droughts and floods, paired with ongoing conflicts and poor governance in Somalia, South Sudan and Ethiopia, are creating a perfect storm in East Africa which risks pushing hundreds of thousands of people into famine.”
According to the UN, 7.7 million Somalis are in need of food assistance this year up from 5.5 million in 2021.
British Ambassador to Somalia Kate Foster said the new funding was critical in preventing extreme drought effects.
“The situation is extremely worrying, with millions of people in desperate need of lifesaving food and clean water. The UK is moving quickly to provide support as experience has shown that early, preventative action is vital to avoiding mass loss of life,” Foster said.
Ford made the announcement during her visit to Kenya.