The United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Wednesday said more than 918,000 people have been displaced from their homes in Somalia due to severe drought, malnutrition and disease outbreaks, reported .
According to the OCHA, currently, more than 90 per cent of Somalia experiences severe to extreme drought conditions. The UN body added that the forecast of a historic fifth poor rainy season will keep needs high well into 2023 and worsen food insecurity as well as water scarcity.
In its latest situation report, the OCHA claims that at least 7 million people have been affected by the severe drought as of July. The humanitarian assistance has reached to more than 4 million people since January.
It said that the UN Humanitarian Air Service has reached about 900,000 vulnerable people in hard-to-reach areas.
“Malnutrition and disease outbreaks have surged, and more people are facing difficulties accessing safe water, proper sanitation, and adequate food,” said OCHA.
The humanitarian agency said donations have significantly boosted the funding needed to scale up the response. As a result, partners will expand humanitarian assistance to reach more drought-affected people, including marginalized groups in areas of greatest need.
In related news, the UN humanitarian agency has offered 9.5 million U.S. dollars to provide immediate assistance to communities in areas at the highest risk of famine in Somalia.
Adam Abdelmoula, the deputy special representative of the Secretary-General and also UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, said the new allocation from the Somalia Humanitarian Fund (SHF) will be crucial in boosting life-saving responses to the needs of worst-affected communities in the Bay and Bakool regions in the South West State of Somalia.
In a statement, Abdelmoula said the risk of famine and the number of people getting displaced has alarmingly increased. He said the funding needed to save Somalia to avert the worst outcome is still insufficient.
