Somalia: Severe drought could kill 58,000 children – UN

SomaliaThe United Nations on Monday warned that over 58,000 children would starve to death in Somalia if they are not provided with urgent humanitarian assistance.

The situation in the country, where dry conditions are exacerbated by an exceptionally strong El Nino weather pattern, is “alarming and could get worse”, the UN said

“The level of malnutrition, especially among children, is of serious concern, with nearly 305,000 children under the age of five are acutely malnourished,” Peter de Clercq, the UN aid chief for Somalia said in a statement.

“We estimate that 58,300 children face death if they are not treated,” he added

Some 950,000 people “struggle every day to meet their food needs,” the UN said, adding that 4.7 million people in total, or nearly 40% of the population were in need of aid.

Floods and failed rains caused by El Nino weather phenomenon have sparked a dramatic rise in the number of people going hungry in large parts of Africa. The UN is calling for $885 million (792 million euros) in aid.

“We are deeply concerned … with severe drought conditions intensifying in Puntland and Somaliland, many more people risk relapsing into crisis,” the UN said.

About Khalid Al Mouahidi 4525 Articles
Khalid Al Mouahidi : A binational from the US and Morocco, Khalid El Mouahidi has worked for several american companies in the Maghreb Region and is currently based in Casablanca, where he is doing consulting jobs for major international companies . Khalid writes analytical pieces about economic ties between the Maghreb and the Mena Region, where he has an extensive network