UN calls for urgent scale-up of humanitarian assistance for Somalia amid severe drought

United Nation’s agency for relief has called on the donors to increase humanitarian assistance for Somalia amid severe drought has ravaged many parts of horn Africa nation.

The drought has killed hundreds of livestock which were the livelihood of thousands of Somalis across the nation.

Overall, five million Somalis which is equivalent to more than 40 per cent of the country’s population do not have sufficient food. More than one million of these are in ‘crisis’ and ‘emergency’. This figure is now projected to increase to over 1.3 million by May 2017, according to a recent Food Security Outlook.

Among the region that the severe drought ruined are Gedo, Sool, Togdher and Hiraan, Galgaduud.

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia Peter de Clercq said in Nairobi on Friday that the situation has become increasingly desperate for vulnerable families in need.

“We are running against time. Humanitarian organizations are stretched and require additional resources to tackle the growing needs from the drought situation and other crises,” he said.

The UN official said the 2016 Humanitarian Response Plan seeking 885 million U.S. dollars is only 47 percent funded four weeks before the end of the year while worsening drought conditions have left hundreds of thousands of Somalis facing severe food and water shortages.

The UN official highlighted the urgency of responding to the drought situation in Somalia, noting that drought in Puntland and Somaliland has deepened and spread to southern and central regions of the country.

He said the fencing is not intended to lock anybody out of Mandera but it is about security by restricting human access only through identified entry and exit points.

In addition, Over 320,000 children under age five are acutely malnourished, including more than 50,000 children who are severely malnourished.

The President of the Federal Government of Somalia appealed for humanitarian assistance on 12 November for people affected by the drought.

State authorities in Jubbaland, Puntland, Somaliland and Galmudug also issued appeals on 2 October, 5 October, 17 November and 30 November, respectively, highlighting the urgency of the situation.