On February 8, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said more than 8.3 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Somalia, where much of the population is on the brink of extinction. starvation.
OCHA considers that in the absence of sufficient funding and enhanced capacity, famine is likely to occur from April to June in populations of the rural districts of Baidoa and Burhakaba, as well as among those who have to displaced in Baidoa and also in the capital Mogadishu.
In its latest updated report on the humanitarian situation in Somalia, OCHA said Somalis are more at risk of hunger, disease and vulnerability than they were a year ago, so many are relying on on humanitarian assistance to survive.
The agency explains that even in the absence of famine, the humanitarian situation remains extremely alarming as more than 6.3 million Somalis are expected to face high levels of food insecurity. from January to March, including 322,000 people at disaster level. Mortality levels could be as high as 2011, when nearly 260,000 people died, with at least half of them children.
According to OCHA, this crisis is caused by record low rainfall in the past four consecutive rainy seasons combined with persistent conflict, displacement of residents and high food prices, which put millions of people at risk. risk and push people Somalia to the brink of famine.
[FAO cảnh báo về tình hình nhân đạo thảm khốc ở Somalia]
The humanitarian office also noted that the current drought is the longest and most severe in decades and has surpassed the 2010-2011 and 2016-2017 droughts.
In addition, the recent escalation of the military offensive against the terrorist group Shebab has also increased tensions in the political sphere and between factions, which has a great impact on the humanitarian situation, especially the humanitarian situation. increased displacement of residents.
OCHA warned that an additional 450,000 civilians will be displaced by conflict by 2023 with security issues such as separation of family members, indiscriminate attacks on civilians, and restrictions on freedom of movement. forced recruitment, kidnapping, and destruction of civilian infrastructure.
Agency of United Nations believes that current military operations will, on the one hand, provide an opportunity to expand access to areas formerly under Shebab control, but also increase the risk of total insecurity and serious deterioration on the other. humanitarian access.
This uncertainty will force humanitarian partners to be more flexible when implementing their programs to adapt to increasing insecurity.
Trung Khanh (VNA/Vietnam+)