More than half a million children in East African Somalia suffer from acute, life-threatening malnutrition, according to UNICEF. Without additional supplies, 513,550 children aged six months to five years are at risk of starvation in the coming weeks, UNICEF’s James Elder said Tuesday according to current estimates.
According to UNICEF, malnourished children are 11 times more likely to die from diseases such as diarrhea or measles. Both diseases were more common in children this year.
Last week, the United Nations warned of a dramatic looming famine in Somalia. Between October and December, the Baidoa and Burhakaba regions are expected to be hit by hunger.
Memories of famine 2011
Etienne Peterschmitt, UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative in Somalia, said the situation in Somalia is developing in a similarly dramatic way to the famine in 2011.
According to the UN, the absence of four consecutive rainy seasons and years of violence have hampered the population’s food supply. The country on the Horn of Africa with about 16 million inhabitants has been shaken by attacks for years. The Islamist terrorist organization Al-Shabaab controls large parts of the southern and central regions.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
