What is needed desperately to end The Crisis in SOMALIA

The Horn of Africa has been experiencing its worst drought in 60 years. 13.3 million people mostly nomadic pastoralists and farmers in the areas of south-central Somalia are severely lacking access to food and water. The crisis currently affects 4 million people in Somalia.

The violent conflict and extremely high food prices in Somalia compound the emergency there, causing extremely severe rates of malnutrition, mass migration to refugee camps in Kenya and Ethiopia, and widespread death. In mid-July, the United Nations declared famine in several areas of south-central Somalia, including Bakool, Lower Shabelle, some districts of Middle Shabelle, Bay region, and in camps hosting displaced people arriving in Mogadishu and Afgoye. On November 18, FEWS-Net downgraded the famine in the Bay, Bakool, and Lower Shabelle regions of southern Somalia.

However, these populations risk slipping back into a state of famine unless humanitarian actors maintain assistance and improve coordination. Famine will persist at least through December 2011 in the agro-pastoral areas of Middle Shabelle and among Afgoye and Mogadishu IDP populations.

Death rates in southern Somalia are higher than 4 children per 10,000 per day in all areas except Juba pastoral areas. In Lower Shabelle, in Afgoye camps, and in Mogadishu camps, death rates exceed 13 children per 10,000 per day, meaning that 10% of the child population dies every 11 weeks.

Quick facts about the UN appeal as of November 18, 2011

13.3 million people in crisis >30,000 children have died already $2.4 billion in aid needed $1.8 billion in aid funded $580 million funding gap BUT $736 million in additional pledges exist and could fund appeal entirely.

The short-­-term response needed now:

1. Donors that have pledged money to emergency response should fill their pledges immediately and, in doing so, meet the needs of underfunded sectors, including emergency agricultural assistance.

The long-­-term response needed now:

2. Donors must meet their L’Aquila commitments, contribute to the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP), and expand their agriculture commitments beyond 2012.

3. The USG should maintain its commitment to the Feed the Future food security initiative.

4. African governments must keep their Maputo and CAADP commitments to agriculture.

5. Any resolution of conflict in Somalia must include a broad base of civil society at its core. Doing this is key to creating lasting peace.

Source: The Nomad Times