Responding to Somalia's Hunger Crisis - Situation Report #13

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Tuesday, September 12, 2017

World Vision continues to respond to a hunger crisis in Somalia and has reached more than 690,000 people in its response efforts since the beginning of 2017. 

Still, there is more work to do. 
On the ground, World Vision's staff continue to highlight the following key issues: 

  • Deepening drought: The threat of famine persists with severe drought expected to deepen until the start of rainy season in October.

  • Food security deteriorating: An estimated 3.1 million people – 25 per cent of the population – are expected to be in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or Emergency (IPC Phase 4) through December 2017. The loss of livestock, below average harvests and high food prices are further exacerbating food insecurity.

  • Child malnutrition rates still too high: The overall nutrition situation in Somalia continues to deteriorate, especially the northern and central regions. An estimated 388,000 children under age 5 are acutely malnourished, including 87,000 who are severely malnourished and face the risk of death without action.

  • Displacement continues: More than a million people have been displaced due to severe drought and conflict. Baidoa and Mogadishu have the highest number of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) with a slight increase being recorded in Baidoa in the past month.

  • Accessibility and security: Spikes in armed conflict and active hostilities experienced in parts of Bakool, Galgaduud, Juba and Lower Shabelle regions. This has caused displacement, an upsurge in protection issues and worsening access to the most affected people.

  • Barriers to access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) remains: While new cases of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) have reduced, over 4.5 million people still need WASH services in the country. 76,236 cases of AWD/ Cholera have been reported since January 2017, with 65 percent being children below the age of 5.

  • Need to scale up response: World Vision International (WVI) has assisted 685,528 people in affected areas of Somaliland, Puntland, Jubaland and South West State since January 2017. More assistance is still needed to match the increased needs.

More information about World Vision's work in the response, its programme activities and the number of people reached from 18 Aug to 01 Sept 2017 available by downloading the Situation Report