UN warns of serious humanitarian crisis in Somalia
MOGADISHU, Somalia – The United Nations has warned of the serious humanitarian crisis in Somalia, a country grappling with a multitude of conflicts, the main ones being flooding, inter-clan conflict, political disputes and the threat of Al-Shabaab.
For nearly three decades, Somalia has struggled to build an economy that improves people’s lives, depending only on foreign aid, which sometimes delays disbursements. There have been delays in recent weeks.
And now the United Nations says the country could be heading into a serious humanitarian crisis if donors do not intervene in the city, adding that the cost of inaction could be embarrassing and devastating.
The UN Resident Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs in Somalia, Adam Abdelmoula, reiterated the warning during his remarks on World Humanitarian Day.
“The cost of inaction will be devastating. Without additional support, the fragile gains we have made so far will be easily unraveled, ”Abdelmousa said. He noted that despite growing humanitarian needs in the country, donor funding was only 40% of the 2021 target.
Recently, the UN and the Somali government appealed for $ 1.09 billion earlier this year as part of the annual humanitarian response plan. But with just four months of donor fatigue, some of the 5.9 million Somalis facing severe food shortages may face further suffering.
A bulletin released by the UN’s OCHA in August, preliminary field assessments and analysis of historical harvest data suggest that the 2021 Gu ‘(late March-June) cereal harvest in the center and south of Somalia is at least 30 to 40 percent lower than long-term forecasts. average (1995-2020).
The combined effect of COVID-19 has led to reduced household access to food and income and populations face large food consumption deficits, the report adds.
The UN official also paid tribute to aid workers in Somalia, noting that they continue to face difficult situations, including killings.
“This year alone, 146 incidents impacting humanitarian operations have been recorded in Somalia. One aid worker was killed, five injured, one kidnapped and three were detained or temporarily arrested, ”Abdelmousa said, noting that targeting aid workers is a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.
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