UN: Food insecurity still a major problem in Somalia

FILE: Parts of the country are hit by a drought which forced thousands to flee their villages after water wells dried up.

MOGADISHU - Somalia will have to struggle with food insecurity for a couple of months, the United Nations has said, with the country now likely to face severe famine in 2022, which could expose many vulnerable families.

The UN office for coordination of humanitarian affairs said the country has done little in food security, adding that persistent droughts and other calamities will significantly affect the Horn of Africa nation.

Citing Somalia 2021 Post Gu Seasonal Food Security and Nutrition Assessment [FAO/FSNAU], the UNOCHA stated an approximated 3.5 million individuals will deal with severe food insecurity through December, of whom almost 640,730 will deal with an emergency situation,” UNOCHA said in its latest humanitarian

“The delay of the October-December deyr (short) rains has also significantly affected supplementary food and income from livestock production,” UNOCHA stated in its newest humanitarian publication launched on Sunday.

It stated food insecurity and severe humanitarian requirements have actually been reported throughout all sectors, with more than 5.9 million individuals presently in requirement of humanitarian help and defense.

According to OCHA, humanitarian companies task that 7.7 million individuals in Somalia will require humanitarian help and defense in 2022 due to disputes in numerous parts of the nation; persistent weather shocks especially dry spell and floods; illness breakouts, consisting of Covid -19; and increasing hardship.

The extensive dry conditions have actually led to increased human suffering and animals deaths, with extreme dry spell effects reported in Jubaland, Southwest, and Galmudug states (main areas) and parts of Puntland.

“In addition to the more than 2.9 million IDPs in Somalia, at least 5.5 million people are reportedly vulnerable due to pre-existing shocks and recurring disasters and are among those who are likely to need humanitarian assistance and protection in 2022,” it stated.

According to UNOCHA, 71 percent of Somalis will continue to live listed below the hardship line in 2022, specifically in locations where humanitarians gain access to stays a difficulty.

The UNOCHA stated that Somalia's 2021 Post Gu Seasonal Food Security and Nutrition Assessment [FAO/FSNAU] estimated that 3.5 million people would face food insecurity by December. Nearly 640,730 of these will be facing an emergency.

Somalia largely depends on humanitarian assistance from the West almost in all development and security aspects thus the concern by the United Nations. It's one of the poorest nations in the world.

GAROWE ONLINE