More than 100 starve in Somalia in two days as famine takes grip

More than a hundred have died in two days (Picture: AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh, File)

Famine has been taking hold in East Africa for weeks and yesterday Somalia’s Prime Minister declared the deaths of one hundred people in just 48 hours.

The deaths of 110 people from hunger and diarrhoea took place in the drought-ridden areas of the Bay region.

South Sudan, which is separated from Somalia by Ethiopia, has also been battling famine which has affected five million people.Hassan Ali Khaire announced the horrible news after it was declared a national disaster.

‘It is a difficult situation for the pastoralists and their livestock. Some people have been hit by [hunger] and diarrhoea at the same time. In the last 48 hours, 110 people died due to [hunger] and diarrhoea in Bay region,’ Khaire’s office said in a statement.

Drought has caused famine for the first time in decades (Picture: AP/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

For famine to be declared 20% of households must be extremely short of food, 30% of the area must be extremely malnourished and a minimum of one per 5,000 people mist die every day.

The criteria was met in South Sudan and famine declared at the end of February.

Causes of famine in South South are varied but most point to the endless conflict since the nation’s inception and in Somalia drought has blighted the country.

A Somali child that fled famine areas (Picture: REUTERS/Feisal Omar)

The British Red Cross is raising funds for famine relief, including providing fishing nets to 90,000 people in South Sudan and have distributed food to 390,000 people.

Before February there had only been one famine globally since the year 2000. Now there is risk of four: South Sudan, Somalia, North East Nigeria and Yemen.

Other groups like Christian Aid are also raising money. Chair, former Archbishop Rowan William, said: ‘The declaration of a state of famine in parts of South Sudan is yet another horrific blow to the hopes and security of the people of this war-ravaged country, already coping with huge levels of displacement as well as violence.

The UN efforts failed to avert famine (Picture: REUTERS/Feisal Omar)

‘Christian Aid has long been stressing the urgency of the situation, and, with this latest announcement, we hope that the attention of the world’s governments and peoples will be drawn again to South Sudan.

‘The crisis in South Sudan is just one of a number of humanitarian catastrophes the world is facing.

‘Millions more are on the edge of survival – in countries like Somalia, Yemen and Nigeria – and we must continue to do what we can to help our sisters and brothers in dire need.’

An internally displaced Somali woman receives treatment (Picture: REUTERS/Feisal Omar)

The United Nations had tried to avert famine being declared in Somalia pledging a giveaway of £3.5 billion to the four at-risk areas.

Additionally the British Government has also voiced their concern.

International Development Secretary Priti Patel said in a statement to Metro.co.uk: ‘More than six million people in Somalia are living in desperate conditions, with the number of people tragically dying from hunger increasing ‎and many more lives threatened.

Charities have already begun feeding hundreds of thousands (Pictures: REUTERS/Feisal Omar)

‘The UK is a world leader on humanitarian aid and we are leading the world by supporting the famine stricken areas in Somalia and providing essential emergency assistance.

‘Our message to the international community is clear – they need to act now and urgently, before it is too late to help stop innocent people starving to death.’

To donate to famine relief you can give at the British Red Cross^[1] or Christian Aid^[2] websites.

 

References

1. Christian Aid (www.christianaid.org.uk)
2. ^{^} World (metrouk2.wordpress.com)