Responding to Somalia's Hunger Crisis - March 2018
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A total of 150,517 people in Somalia were reached with World Vision's response to drought, displacement and food insecurity in March 2018.
Still, the response is ongoing.
World Vision is concerned that:
- The drought in Somalia persists with an estimated 5.4 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and protection. Regions such as Awdal, Bari, Sanaag, Nugal, Sool and Woqooyi Galbeed have experienced four consecutive seasons of failed rains resulting in water shortages, loss of livestock and crop failure leading to widespread acute food insecurity.
- Too many children are malnourished: Despite a slight improvement in the general nutritional status in Somalia, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and pastoralist communities in the northeast and northwest regions of Somalia recorded critical levels of Global Acute Malnutrition of 15% or higher and require urgent nutrition support.
- Access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and health remains a challenge: An increase in cases of Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD)/ Cholera has been reported since January 2018 with 1,477 cases and nine deaths being recorded so far. The upsurge in cholera is attributed to scarcity of fresh water.
- Displacements by drought: While 2 million people have been displaced in Somalia since January 2017 a significant reduction in the monthly average of new displacement has been recorded since July 2017. However, forced evictions, particularly among urban IDPs and armed hostilities, continue to undermine efforts towards recovery. Mogadishu and Baidoa continue to host the highest number of IDPs.
World Vision continues to respond. Since the beginning of 2018 World Vision’s programme supported 332,954 adults and 163,045 children through our food security, health, nutrition, water and hygiene, education and Gift-in-kind interventions.
For more information about World Vision's response activities, locations and other details, please download (pdf) our March 2018 Situation Report.