Droughts in Somalia devastates thousands of people

Drought in Southern Somalia is escalating and devastating thousands of people. Save the Children said in a statement that donors must urgently ‘respond to the needs of children and their families as they enter a new, critical phase of this crisis.’

The aid agency said hundreds of water sources have dried up, and countless animals and crops have died as a result of the intensifying drought leaving families with no access to food and safe drinking water. Families too have lost their life savings in the deaths of their livestock.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Mohamed Roble announced a state of emergency and urged local and international response to provide life-saving aid and stem the tide of a fast-deteriorating humanitarian situation in the country.

The UN estimates 2.6 million people in 66 out of 74 districts across the country lack access to sufficient food, water and pasture. The UN also projects that 1.2 million children under the age of five will be acutely malnourished by the end of the year, with nearly 213,400 of them severely malnourished.