Save the Children reported today that Somalia’s debilitating drought, the worst in at least 40 years, has pushed more than half a million people to flee their homes in search of food and water in the last four months, with mothers fearful of losing their children.
The country is suffering from its fourth consecutive dry season, wreaking havoc on families and children and prompting fears of a repetition of the 2011 famine, which killed over a quarter of a million people, half of whom were children under the age of five. Experts are warning that there is now a credible chance that the next rainy season, which runs from October to December, may again fail, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation.
Due to the extended drought, insufficient humanitarian funding, worldwide disturbed supply lines, and increasing food prices as a result of the fighting in Ukraine, women in the country are unable to feed their children and fear for their lives, according to Save the Children.
Suad, a farmer, is 55 years old and lives in a camp in the Sanaag region. After her animals died due to the drought, she arrived in the camp four weeks ago with her seven children and crippled mother.
Suad told Save the Children that her livestock was destroyed during the previous drought in 2017. She had 400 cows and goats at the time and was down to only two, however she was able to reclaim some of them. Now that the drought has reduced her assets to nearly nothing, she believes that she may be unable to save what remains of her pastoralist lifestyle.
She said: “The drought has brought despair. I don’t know what will become of us. I can’t feed my family, I feel helpless. How can you provide a living for your children when you’ve lost your livelihood? It’s a very difficult time, we’re all on the move in search of a better life.”
Sitting from across her mother,12-year-old Samia, said: “If we had rain, life would be so different. I wouldn’t need go out in search of water and I would have more time for my studies.”
Adults in today’s age are not marrying or having children, and they are starting their occupations considerably later in life than previous generations.
“How old do you have to be to be considered an adult?” On The Best T in the City, Tbose inquires.
Ollie claims that his parents still perceive him as a child, despite the fact that he has numerous degrees, a car, and a home. They won’t allow him leave the house after a particular hour, for example. He continues, “I think it would be different if I had a wife and kids.”
According to Kutullo, it depends on the situation. “A youngster in charge of a home automatically adopts the position of an adult,” for example.
As the threat of starvation grows, the UN cautions that an immediate and timely increase in humanitarian aid is needed to save communities across Somalia from death and devastation.
Mohamud Mohamed, Save the Children’s Country Director in Somalia, said:
“We saw this coming. A two-year drought in Somalia and the Horn of Africa, which has decimated crops and livestock and eroded people’s ability to cope, with mothers having to make the difficult choice of putting their children to sleep hungry. Malnutrition rates among children is on a steady rise and the UN has warned that as many as 350,000 children could die by the summer if we do not act and yet the window of opportunity to act and avert a catastrophe is shrinking with every passing day.
We are calling on governments and the international community to make the right decision and prevent the suffering of millions of people and possible deaths of thousands of people from this climate-induced hunger. A localized response that targets saving lives and livelihoods must be prioritized including supporting local food production, protecting the poorest, and making food affordable.”
Save the Children is assisting Somalia’s drought-affected communities in dealing with the immediate humanitarian consequences of the drought. We are providing emergency water supplies, treating malnourished children, supporting education systems so that children do not lose important learning opportunities due to drought, operating health facilities, and offering monetary and livelihood assistance to the most disadvantaged.
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