58,000 Somali kids will starve to death

[Inactive]

58,000 Somali children starving to death, says UN
February 8, 2016




Over 58,000 children will starve to death in Somalia without urgent support, the United Nations warned Monday, amid severe drought in the impoverished and war-torn Horn of Africa country.

“The level of malnutrition, especially among children, is of serious concern, with nearly 305,000 children under the age of five years acutely malnourished,” said UN aid chief for Somalia Peter de Clercq. “We estimate that 58,300 children face death if they are not treated.”

The grim assessment, based on the latest data collected by the UN, comes just over four years since intense drought and war sparked a famine killing more than a quarter of a million people.

Some 950,000 people “struggle every day to meet their food needs,” the UN said, adding that 4.7 million people in total, or nearly 40 percent of Somalia, are in need of aid.


Floods and failed rains caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon have sparked a dramatic rise in the number of people going hungry in large parts of Africa.

Northern Somali areas, including self-declared independent Somaliland along the Gulf of Aden and semi-autonomous Puntland, are especially hard hit.

“The food security and malnutrition situation in Somalia is alarming, especially in parts of Puntland and Somaliland, which have been hard hit by drought exacerbated by El Nino,” the UN said.

“We are deeply concerned…with severe drought conditions intensifying in Puntland and Somaliland, many more people risk relapsing into crisis.”

The UN is calling for $885 million (792 million euros) in aid.

Fighting continues between Somalia’s Al-Qaeda linked Shebab insurgents and government and allied forces, backed by the African Union force, which counts more than 20,000 members.

The warning comes as neighbouring Ethiopia struggles to combat its worse drought for 30 years.

At least 10.2 million people need food aid in Ethiopia, a figure the UN has warned could double within months, leaving a fifth of the population to go hungry.

El Nino is triggered by a warming in sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. It can cause unusually heavy rains in some parts of the world and drought elsewhere.

 

[CrazyWadaad]

Sad to hear Wallahi.The whole region from Eritrea to South Somalia suffering.We live in of the most harshest environments.Imagine how the Afars are doing? Their land already looks like Mars on a good year.May Allah Preserve the people of Geeska Africa!

 

[Inactive]

Is there any aid organization with small bureaucracy that we can donate to?

For every $1 you donate, more than half goes to administration costs. Or Al Shabab or just plain pocketing.

 

[Geeljire]

I saw gabiley odeyaals speak on this issue of drought on SNTV. The situation is really dire down north.

Somaliland seems to suffer the most.

In Somaliland, climate change is now a life-or-death challenge (Stricken With Drought)

Somalilandvillage of Gargara – where women speak of their heartache at losing goats in this year’s drought – and ford the fractured beds of dry rivers, passing the sun-bleached bones of dead animals, you eventually arrive in Lughaya, where open-mouthed fish lie on the white sands by the Red Sea after a wave “like a mountain” smashed into the coast this month.

This is what a changing climate looks like.

Somaliland, which broke away from Somalia in 1991 but is not recognised internationally, could be considered the canary in the mine of a world that is getting hotter, and where extreme weather is becoming more common.

Across this relatively peaceful corner of the Horn of Africa, where black-headed sheep scamper among the thorn bushes, dainty gerenuk balance on their hind legs to nibble from hardy shrubs, and skinny camels wearing rough-hewn bells lumber over rocky slopes, people long accustomed to a harsh environment find they cannot cope after years of below-average rainfall.
UN climate talks taking place in Paris, which begin next week. For them, the changing climate is an immediate life-or-death challenge that has pushed their already tenuous existence to the very edge.

Droughts are common in this region of Africa, and famines not unknown – thelast major famine to hit was in 2011.

But Mohamed Ali Ismail, a 70-year-old from the village of Bildhaaley, about three hours’ drive on bumpy tracks from the capital, Hargeisa, says things are steadily getting worse.

“I have lived here all my life. We were wealthy, and had lots of livestock. There were wild fruits on the trees, thick forests, good livestock and wild animals. We were not worrying about our life. But things got harder because the rain has failed, or is less frequent … In my 70 years, I have never seen an ostrich die without water, never seen a deer die without water, so when I see these wild animals dying, unlike at any time before, I don’t see the climate getting better … It is a critical situation.”

Ali Ismail does not know what to tell young villagers who wonder what the future holds.

“That’s the most crucial question. They become mature and they say, ‘We cannot live’ … They don’t know what to do so they cross the sea to seek a better life in Europe. We don’t have an answer.”
More than 240,000 people do not have enough food in Somaliland because of this acute drought caused by poor Gu rains (the region’s main rainy season) from April to June this year, and in 2014. Save the Children, which takes water to vulnerable people, provides chlorination, and builds wells and berkads, or reservoirs, says malnutrition rates – especially for children under five – are alarming and likely to increase.

This region has also been hit by the El Niño phenomenon, which is expected to last until early 2016. The UN has saidthat food insecurity will worsen, with the number of people needing aid rising to around 32 million by early next year.Ethiopia is particularly vulnerable,while floods in southern Somalia have displaced tens of thousands.

According to the ND-Gain Country Index, which summarises a country’s vulnerability to climate change and its readiness to improve resilience, Somalia isamong the world’s most vulnerable nations.
Yoonisonce had 250 goats and sheep and 10 camels. She now has 10 goats. Three of her children have gone to Djibouti. She has not heard from them since.
I am no longer thinking of being a pastoralist. Livestock are not useful. They die, so there is no point,” she says, rubbing her hands together. “I feel so much sadness and sorrow for how my life turned out. I was hoping it would be better.”

http://www.theguardian.com/global-d...ange-drought-cyclones-life-or-death-challenge

This is truly heartbreaking Floods down south and droughts down north. Climate change is really kicking our behinds. Waa Dhibaato!!

 

[waraabe]

But let's be truthful here, these children who will die due to starvation won't be from the north or SL. They will mostly likely be southies just like the famines in 90s and 2011. Very sad but Somalilanders need to start collecting for Somalilanders who are hit hard, Inshallah I shall send some money

 

[Geeljire]

But let's be truthful here, these children who will die due to starvation won't be from the north or SL. They will mostly likely be southies just like the famines in 90s and 2011. Very sad but Somalilanders need to start collecting for Somalilanders who are hit hard, Inshallah I shall send some money

Its not drought that hit the south it was a huge flood displacing thousands and the southern part of the country are doing way better in terms of food security


They get the most support by the UN couple that with the boost that local farmers give to add. Its seems less likely that the South is going to have one of those major famine outbreaks, while in North in PL and SL its really dire and not much aid is given to them.

 

[Kaafiye]

Ummah Welfare Trust is an organization which I regularly donate too. Their administration costs are 0 and their workers are all volunteers.

If you donate 100 dollars to UWT, they will give all of the money towards the intended recipient, and they're one of the very few aid organizations that are operating in countries Somalia, Central African Republic, and Burma. May Allah protect us all.

 

[Geeljire]

Somalia: Puntland President declares state of drought

Puntland President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali issued an urgent appeal for an international aid as parts of the autonomous state face a drought that has left hundred thousands of the population in dire need.

Mr Ali made the announcement on Friday after holding a meeting with International and local aid organizations on dealing with the growing crisis.

‘’The situation is very severe. The conditions are very harsh. We request for the international community to assist the many people in need,’’ he said while addressing Journalists in Garowe.

Puntland President stated Bari, Sanag, Karkaar, Gardafu and parts of Sool as the hardest hit provinces in the region.
https://horseedmedia.net/2014/05/15/somalia-puntland-government-tackle-drought-situation/

 

[waraabe]

Its not drought that hit the south it was a huge flood displacing thousands and the southern part of the country are doing way better in terms of food security


They get the most support by the UN couple that with the boost that local farmers give to add. Its seems less likely that the South is going to have one of those major famine outbreaks, while in North in PL and SL its really dire and not much aid is given to them.

If history has anything to show then starvation will hit south. Cold truth

 

[Geeljire]

What the hell is wrong with you?

This is not a South vs North contest.
There are actual lives in jeopardy and if people dont act quickly this could be really fatal.

 

[CrazyWadaad]

Its not drought that hit the south it was a huge flood displacing thousands and the southern part of the country are doing way better in terms of food security


They get the most support by the UN couple that with the boost that local farmers give to add. Its seems less likely that the South is going to have one of those major famine outbreaks, while in North in PL and SL its really dire and not much aid is given to them.

UN and other Muslim/Arab organizations are there on the ground.This will mostly affect the nomadic people who will be driven to the cities.Plus we already got Yemenis and Oromo refugees.Our govt doesn't have a budget to help. This situation is dangerous.Even Ethiopia with their amount of wealth can't feed their drought stricken people which also includes Somalis in Kilinka Shanaad.These extreme droughts are signs from Allah! The region needs to get their shit together if we want to live.

 

[CrazyWadaad]

If history has anything to show then starvation will hit south. Cold truth

Walaal is deeji.Both sides will have people struggling.There is time for politics but this is about humanity.

 

[Bahal]

Waraabe is a very disturbed individual.

 

[angrycat]

How much of the famine/drought is due to the war/lack of stability? If it was in a good condition, would this famine still be a problem?

 

[waraabe]

Walaal is deeji.Both sides will have people struggling.There is time for politics but this is about humanity.

No all I am pointing out is that the South has more chances to face starvation compared to north. Droughts are a regular thing in SL

 

[CrazyWadaad]

How much of the famine/drought is due to the war/lack of stability? If it was in a good condition, would this famine still be a problem?

Somaliland usually handles it pretty well.People don't starve to death but cows,goats and Sheep will die tho.But I think what different now is the 84,000 reer konfuur and 10,000 Yemenis taking handouts from UN which is excluding locals.But Somalilanders through Qabil networks and diaspora sending money back home will cope.The problem with South Somalia is war and also Alshabab won't let Aid workers in like the last big famine that hit South Somalia cause they think Aid workers are Basaas

 

[Geeljire]

How much of the famine/drought is due to the war/lack of stability? If it was in a good condition, would this famine still be a problem?

Well the famine/drought is mainly due to climate change and lack of food security and management.

You can see this has huge effect on the northern/eastern regions of Somalia recognized as stabile regions.

While down South were they have experienced serious floods and awful rainfall, the crisis is compounded by instabile activity around southern Somalia from the Alshabaab, but despite of this in many southern regions they are doing a better job in handling it due to food management and support.