The United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Friday appealed for urgent funding of $131.4 million to assist over 882,000 people across 55 districts of the drought-hit Somalia, reported The UN News.
“Funding levels remain low across sectors,” the UN agency said in a statement, adding that its famine prevention efforts were only 46% funded.
Voicing concern on the drought situation in Somalia, the UN agency underlined the vulnerability of the households that have been affected by it. It is feared that people living in eight areas of the country could be experiencing famine by September due to drought and lack of livelihood support.
“We cannot wait for famine to be declared; we must act now to safeguard livelihoods and lives,” Rein Paulsen, Director of the FAO Office of Emergencies and Resilience said, after a recent visit to the country.
The agriculture sector accounts for up to 60% of Somalia’s national income, 80% of its employment, and 90% of its exports, so, it is important that efforts related to the sector are seen as part of a frontline humanitarian response.
The drought and lack of livelihood support has forced over 900,000 people in Somalia, mostly living in rural areas, to move to internally displaced persons camps since January 2021.
According to the UNICEF, more than 500 children died in Somalia since January due to drought-related malnutrition. The UN estimates that more than 7 million Somalis have been affected by the drought.
“We have urgent problems with funding,” the FAO director said.
The UN food organization has been alarming about the deteriorating condition in Somalia since April last year and the failure of successive rains.
Mr Paulsen said the lack of response has led to vulnerable farmers being forced to move as livestock are dying and crops failing. He added that now everyone has to mobilize quickly and at scale.
