The UN migration agency warned on Monday that Somalia is on the verge of famine as a result of a severe drought.
The International Organization for Migration said in a statement on Twitter that humanitarian partners working in the Horn of Africa country provided food and water to 1.8 million drought-affected people in February.
“However, 4.9 million people are in desperate need. The demand for services is outstripping the available funding “according to the statement
Late Sunday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that Somalia is experiencing the worst drought in 40 years.
According to him, the agencies are running out of resources because their response plan is only 4% funded.
On Twitter, Guterres said, “I urge the international community not to forget this crisis.”
Drought has affected nearly 90% of Somalia, causing an influx of displaced people, particularly in the Bay and Bakool provinces of South West State.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, a few places across the country received light to moderate rains over the past day, indicating the possible start of the rainy season (OCHA).
“Field reports indicate that moderate rains occurred in parts of the Bay and Bakool regions during the same time period.”
“It is worth noting that the anticipated rains in the coming week will not suffice to alleviate the country’s current drought conditions; more rains with good temporal and spatial distribution will be required throughout the season to improve the situation,” the OCHA said in a statement on Friday.
Rain is expected to spread across the southern and central regions this week, while no rain is expected in the northern regions, according to the rainfall forecast.
Late last year, Somalia’s Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble declared a “humanitarian state of emergency” due to the drought.