Families in Somalia taking extreme measures to survive
Acute malnutrition case admissions among children under five in Somalia and Somaliland rose by over 40 per cent in January-April 2022 compared to the same period of last year, according to a new report.
A worsening drought is putting some areas in central and southern Somalia at an increased risk of famine through at least September 2022 if the current Gu season crop and livestock production fails, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).
The evaluation of nutritional status of people in the region is difficult due to lack of health care services and insecurity, according to Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), an international independent medical-humanitarian organisation.
Somalia and Somaliland are facing one of the worst droughts in decades, following four poor rainy seasons.
Families in Somalia are taking extreme measures to survive and in many cases they are leaving their homes, which put children on the move particularly at risk, according to UNICEF.
By March 9, 2022 around 670,000 people had been displaced in search of food, water and land for grazing livestock, it added.
A severe drought has affected about 90 per cent of Somalia’s land and a quarter of its 16 million population, Down To Earth had reported earlier.
The MSF team in Baidoa, the largest city of Somalia, screened 81,706 children under the age of five in February. They found severe acute malnutrition rates of 3 per cent and global acute malnutrition rates of 17 per cent.
In Baidoa, the arrival of huge numbers of displaced families and the rising cases of cholera and malnutrition are straining the already struggling healthcare facilities in the city, according to UNICEF.
As of May 2022, an estimated 1.5 million children under five face acute malnutrition through the end of the year, including 386,400 who are likely to be severely malnourished, UNICEF data showed. This is an increase of 55,000 compared to previous estimates.
Angela Kearney, UNICEF Somalia representative, said:
It’s not only about water or nutrition, but also about children losing education, falling vulnerable to child protection issues and having poor health; all impacting their future.
The current drought comes on top of decades of conflict, recurrent climate shocks, frequent disease outbreaks and increasing poverty in Somalia and Somaliland. As the drought worsens, the country is also experiencing a massive outbreak of measles.
Baidoa, a city of some 130,000 people, is currently hosting more than double its own population of displaced people, with many families living in the overcrowded settlements.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.