Kathmandu, February 9. The Somali government and humanitarian organization collectively announced on Wednesday that the nation needs 2.6 billion dollars in financial assistance to fight starvation.

According to the Somali government, the impact of five consecutive unfavorable rainy seasons has led to a severe threat of hunger, and disease for 8.25 million people in Somalia.

Starving Horn of Africa

Somalia along with its two neighboring countries, Ethiopia and Kenya, are together known as the “Horn of Africa”. These three countries are currently facing the longest and most severe drought in history. The major section of population maintain a pastoral lifestyle, therefore, the death of livestocks caused by the complication of drought, has caused food crises and spread of diseases.

Last year in February, the World Food Programme (WFP) identified climate change, conflict, global inflation, and grain shortages as root causes for the devastation. ‘Since 2019, there has been inadequate rainfall, which has seriously affected 70% of all harvests and increased market prices for food, water, and other commodities.’

Severe malnutrition in Children

In July 2022, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) issued a warning, and reported that 10 million children in the horn of Africa were under the risk of severe acute malnutrition. The number doubled in five months.

In December, UNICEF announced that 20.2 million children are in need of immediate nutrition treatment.