MOGADISHU, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The World Food Program (WFP) announced on Tuesday that it requires 254.7 million U.S. dollars in net funding to enhance humanitarian assistance in Somalia until May, with roughly 5.98 million people forecast to need aid by then.

"The humanitarian situation remains critical due to anticipated poor rainfall, drier conditions, and persistent armed conflict," the WFP said in its humanitarian report, highlighting an urgent funding gap of 242.4 million dollars for life-saving humanitarian relief and nutrition assistance.

The WFP said 4.4 million people in Somalia, nearly a quarter of the population, are facing acute food insecurity, while some additional 1.6 million children under five are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition from August 2024 to July 2025.

The WFP, along with other United Nations agencies, is urgently calling for additional funding to scale up humanitarian and resilience programs to address the impacts of the anticipated drought in Somalia, which is exacerbated by funding shortfalls, unfavorable rainfall forecasts, ongoing security challenges, and rising food prices.

The WFP report noted that conflict caused 476,000 new internal displacements in 2024, representing 52 percent of the total, with climate shocks accounting for most of the remaining displacements.

"These frequent displacements and recurring climate shocks continue to strain the coping capacities and resilience of millions of Somalis," it said.

The WFP also reported that the Deyr rains from October to December 2024, driven by La Nina conditions, were poor, with delayed onset and minimal rainfall across much of the country. As a result, significant vegetation deterioration has occurred since early October last year, and the region is expected to experience a harsh Jilaal dry season from January to March. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)