Food crisis in Somalia threatens 1.5 million people

A new food crisis is on the rise in Somalia, threatening the lives and well-being of 1.5 million people. Geno Teofilo, Regional Head of Communications & Advocacy East Africa at the Norwegian Refugee Council, recently joined CNBC Africa to shed light on the critical situation unfolding in the country. Teofilo explained that the crisis has been triggered by an inaccurate weather forecast, leading to a large moisture deficit caused by below-average rains during the past rainy season. This has resulted in drought conditions in parts of northern and central Somalia, with early cases of livestock migration and people being forced to move their animals to search for water and pasture in other regions. With no rainfall expected until the next rainy season in April, the situation is only expected to worsen. The impact of the crisis is particularly severe in the southern, northern, and central regions of Somalia. According to Teofilo, Somalia is currently facing an emergency food crisis, with 1.5 million people classified under IPC-3, indicating a dire need for immediate assistance. The lack of adequate rainfall, coupled with the displacement of 2.6 million people within the country due to previous droughts and conflict, has left a significant portion of the population vulnerable. Of particular concern are the 900,000 children under the age of five who are projected to suffer from severe malnutrition this year. This paints a grim picture for Somalia in 2019, with many lives hanging in the balance. The impact of the food crisis extends beyond just lack of food security. Teofilo pointed out that drought-induced crop failures and a scarcity of water have driven up food prices, further exacerbating the situation for vulnerable populations. With limited financial and livestock reserves to cope with the crisis, many families are unable to afford the high costs of water trucking to rural communities. As a result, internal migration to urban centers in search of emergency aid has become a common coping mechanism for affected communities. Despite the efforts of the Norwegian Refugee Council and the humanitarian aid community to coordinate with the government and local authorities to provide assistance, there is a pressing need for additional resources to address the growing crisis. While aid organizations are working tirelessly to deliver emergency aid and resilience programs to affected populations, the scale of the crisis outstrips the available resources. Teofilo urged wealthier donor governments to step up their contributions to help the people of Somalia weather this storm. Looking ahead, Teofilo expressed concern about the potential for the crisis to escalate further, with the possibility of a larger number of people being affected as a result of the ongoing drought conditions. Somalia, as one of the countries most severely impacted by climate change, has faced recurring challenges with drought in recent years, with past incidents leading to widespread famine. While the current situation is not yet at that level of severity, the trend is alarming, and urgent action is needed to prevent a further deterioration of the crisis. Teofilo emphasized the critical importance of international support in providing life-saving aid to the vulnerable populations in Somalia.