Somalia\u2019s humanitarian situation remains \u201calarming\u201d four years after a devastating famine with the number of people requiring emergency aid rising 17 per cent to more than 850,000 and those in \u201cfood-stressed\u201d situations still at 2.3 million, according to the latest United Nations-managed food assessment study released today.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe levels of food insecurity and malnutrition are critical,\u201d said UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Peter de Clercq. \u201cHumanitarian actors and donors have prevented the situation being a lot worse than it is, but we all need to do more.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe situation among internally displaced people is particularly worrying,\u201d Mr. de Clercq said.<\/p>\n
In 2011, Somalia experienced a devastating famine, according to the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Things have since improved, but humanitarian needs remain vast and the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance continues to fluctuate around 3 million. The ability to absorb shocks \u2013 whether conflict or natural disasters \u2013 is very limited.<\/p>\n
According to the Food Security and Nutrition Assessment for Somalia managed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), \u201cwidespread acute malnutrition persists across Somalia and large numbers of people will be acutely food insecure through December 2015.\u201d<\/p>\n
The results of assessment presented today in the Somali capital of Mogadishu \u201cindicate that the country\u2019s humanitarian situation remains alarming,\u201d OCHA said.<\/p>\n
The latest findings from the joint countrywide seasonal assessment reveal that some 855,000 people across Somalia will be in \u2018crisis and emergency\u2019 through December 2015.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis figure represents a 17 per cent increase over the estimate for February to June 2015,\u201d according to the assessment, while the number of those in food-stressed situations remained at 2.3 million.<\/p>\n
More than two thirds, or 68 per cent, of the people who are in crisis and emergency are internally displaced and nearly 215,000 children aged under five are acutely malnourished, of whom almost 40,000 are severely malnourished and face a high risk of disease and death.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must continue investing in saving lives. We cannot allow a reversal in the important steps forward made on the humanitarian and development fronts,\u201d Mr. de Clercq said, \u201cWe must simultaneously address the underlying causes of the country\u2019s predicament, and work on durable solutions that will mitigate suffering while also building a more resilient Somalia.\u201d<\/p>\n