Somalis who need humanitarian assistance rose 30 per cent in just one year, UN says

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Somalis who need humanitarian assistance rose 30 per cent in just one year, UN says

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) With nearly three million Somalis currently affected by the country's worsening drought, an estimated 7.7 million Somalis will need humanitarian assistance and protection in 2022.

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Somalis who need humanitarian assistance rose 30 per cent in just one year, UN says.

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) With nearly three million Somalis currently affected by the country's worsening drought, an estimated 7.7 million Somalis will need humanitarian assistance and protection in 2022.

The United Nations Office for Humanitarian Coordination (OCHA) estimates as a 30 per cent rise in just one year. The 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan seeks close to $1.5 billion to assist 5.5 million of the most vulnerable among them.

In November, Somali government declared a state of emergency as drought intensifies, affecting more than 2.8 million people in 66 out of 74 districts, with nearly 133,000 people displaced in search of food, water and pasture.

"the situation is extreme and will likely further deteriorate in the coming months. The drought has affected more than 2.8 million people in 66 out of Somalia’s 74 districts and displaced about 133,000 people, mostly in central and southern areas," says a UNHCR-led Protection and Return Monitoring Network.

While pockets of acute need exist across the country, the drought is particularly severe in Galmudug, Jubaland, parts of Puntland and South West states, where minimal to no rainfall has been received since the start of the October to December deyr season. The Galmudug Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management appealed for humanitarian assistance on 11 November, stating that about 80 per cent of the state is affected by drought, including areas controlled by non-state armed actors in Mudug and Galgaduud regions. Over 60,000 people have reportedly migrated with their livestock to Ethiopia, according to the Galmudug Ministry of Livestock.

Basic commodity prices have spiked due to severe shortages of water, fuel, cereals, food and livestock feeds. Maize and sorghum prices in many markets in southern Somalia have risen 30 to 60 per cent above a five-year average. Livestock deaths – a major source of livelihood for pastoralists – are widespread and have particularly increased since October. In Galmudug, over 2,700 livestock have been lost since 25 October due to prevailing drought and diseases, according to the state Ministry of Livestock. Livestock prices are down by over 50 per cent in November, compared to three months ago.

Pastoralists are migrating in search of food and water, including across the borders to and from Ethiopia and Kenya. About 31,000 new arrivals have been received in Jubaland, where the authorities report that four people died allegedly due to drought. The IDPs, the majority from Bay, Bakool and parts of Gedo region, are hosted in six sites in Luuq District, and urgently need food and shelter, according to the district authorities.

In Puntland, more than 431,000 people are reportedly affected by drought, as are about 700,000 people in Somaliland and 620,000 in South West State, while in Banadir, close to 11,000 new arrivals have been reported due to drought since October.

"If drought conditions are to worsen as expected in December and into the first quarter of 2022, it will likely lead to a similar situation witnessed in 2016/2017," The UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) says.