Somalia on the brink once again

Somalia is once again under the brink of another humanitarian catastrophe, says aid agency, World Vision International.

The organization raised the red flag today over a severe drought as well serious food and water shortages that are having life-threatening consequences on over 3.2 million people in the country.

“We are extremely concerned that the figures have increased by 20% over the last 6 months. Sadly 218,000 children are now severely malnourished,” said Francois Batalingaya, World Vision’s Country Director in Somalia. “The world must act now and let it not forget that it waited too long for the famine that killed thousands in 2010 to occur.”

Humanitarian agencies have for the last 10 months been calling for action over the drought situation where 2.9 million people were in need of help. However United Nations recently estimated the figures to 3.2 million. About 1.1 million of the affected people (mostly in South Central regions) are families that have been displaced families by the long drawn conflict in the country.

World Vision says that majority of farmers were not able to harvest any grain due to the failure of the rain seasons.  Water sources and pasture have dried up too thus causing death of thousands of animals. Furthermore, the ongoing conflict has caused market disruptions and reduced access to seasonal agricultural employment.

World Vision Somalia response

World Vision has been responding to this crisis as it builds up over the months through emergency programming – providing food aid and trucking drinking water to desperate communities in Puntland region as well as parts of South Central.

The organization has had 56,000 malnourished children enrolled in an emergency feeding regime since April this year.

World Vision is also implementing initiatives that will shore up communities from the shocks of the drought. About 2200 families are benefiting from Cash for Work in Dangorayo District in Puntland.

“We will not relent as long as we are able save a child’s life in Somalia,” said Mr. Batalingaya.

 For More information and media interviews:

John Kisimir, Senior Communications Manager – Somalia

Tel +254 708 077436

Skype: john.kisimirwv