Source: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/
Andrew Mitchell, UK International Development Secretary, during a recent visit to Mogadishu, Somalia warned that about 400,000 children are at the risk of death due to starvation if urgent action is not taken now. He also announced that Britain will supply vital aid consisting of extra food and medical supplies, to more than 800,000 women and children in Somalia, as figures show that half of those who have died during the famine in Somalia are children.
Mr Mitchell, the first British Minister to visit Mogadishu in over 18 years, warned that the current crisis in Somalia can well turn into the famine like situation of in 1991-92, if proper steps are not taken urgently. During the famine of 1991-92, more than 200,000 people lost their lives. Aid workers are now seeing some of the same severe malnutrition rates in certain areas, and over 50% of the population is affected.
Current crisis in the country is alarming owing to lack of health care, inadequate immunisation, poor access to clean water and sanitation that have given rise to disease outbreaks, including cholera and measles. Urgent action in all these sectors, not just food assistance, is vital to prevent more unnecessary deaths.
During Mr Mitchell’s historic visit to Mogadishu he visited an IDP camp and feeding centre, discussed progress of aid delivery with British-backed UN and NGO partners, met with Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed as well as the Deputy Mayor Iman Nur Icar, the Ministers for Women and Family Affairs, Planning and International Co-operation, and Minister for Interior and State Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Finance and Information.
The UK’s new assistance package of £25m to UNICEF is aimed at doubling the number of children they are reaching in their supplementary feeding program.
The UK will also provide £4m to FAO to help protect the remaining livestock by supporting treatment and vaccination of 2.1 million animals weakened by the drought, benefitting 70,000 livestock owners and distribute seeds and fertilisers to 12,500 households.
Britain’s response to the drought crisis in Somalia will now provide:
– treatment for over 60,000 acutely malnourished children;
– cash and/or vouchers to over 160,000 people for at least three months to purchase food;
– 2 months of blanket supplementary rations to 192,000 people to prevent malnutrition;
– food rations for over 19,000 people for up to three months;
– access to safe water for over 300,000 people;
– livestock support or agricultural supplies (including seeds) to 191,600 people;
– access to healthcare to 140,000 people;
– measles vaccinations for 800,000 children;
– 100,000 treated bednets to prevent malaria;
– shelter for over 46,000 people.
