Humanitarian agencies estimate that $9.5 million is needed to help displaced people.
The devastating drought in Somalia has reached an unprecedented level, with one million people now registered as displaced. More than 755,000 people have been internally displaced by this year’s severe drought. This brings the total to one million people displaced since January 2021, when the drought began, according to figures released on Thursday by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
“This milestone of one million people should serve as a wake-up call for the situation in Somalia,” said Mohamed Abdi, NRC Country Director.
“Famine is now threatening the whole country. We are seeing more and more families being forced to abandon everything because there is literally no food or water left in their villages. There is an urgent need to increase aid funding before it is too late,” he added.
The Horn of Africa country has been in a historic drought for two years, a situation not seen for more than 40 years. A fifth failed rainy season is expected to displace many more families as famine looms on the horizon.
The number of people facing extreme levels of hunger in Somalia is expected to rise from around 5 to over 7 million in the coming months. This situation is exacerbated by the effects of climate change and rising food prices due to the conflict in Ukraine.
“Vulnerable populations are the hardest hit by the effects of the climate crisis. It leaves many families without protection and leads to an increase in forced displacement,” said UNHCR’s Representative in Somalia Magatte Guissé.
TE/lb/abj/APA