3M Somalis face starvation, disease: Global aid body

ANKARA

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on Wednesday called for swift action to take measures to eliminate the food insecurity and diseases in Somalia.

IFRC Regional Director for Africa Mohammed Mukhier said in a written statement that Somalia was one of the “riskiest places on earth” to live with troubles such as climate-related disasters, conflicts, and COVID-19 outbreak, adversely affecting at least 3 million people in the country.

The statement noted that one in four people faced “high levels of acute food insecurity and more than 800,000 children under the age of five are at risk of acute malnutrition unless they receive treatment and food assistance immediately.”

“We are doing our best to contribute to the reduction of hunger and disease. But, frankly speaking, available assistance remains a drop in the ocean, given the scale of suffering,” Mukhier said.

The IFRC is seeking around $9.4 million to address the needs and support the Somali Red Crescent Society to assist more than 563,000 people over 18 months, it added.

The financial aid aims to provide basic needs, health and nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, issues of gender and inclusion along with helping communities to get ready for other diseases.