Hundreds of children have already died in nutrition centers across Somalia, the United Nations Children’s Agency (UNICEF) said on Tuesday, a day after it warned that parts of Somalia, Ethiopia, and Somaliland would be hit by famine in the coming months.

The Horn of Africa region is on track for a fifth-consecutive failed rainy season. In 2011, a famine in Somalia claimed more than a quarter of a million lives, most of them children.

“Some 730 children have been reported to have died in food and nutrition centers across the country between January and July this year, but the numbers could be more as many deaths go unreported,” UNICEF Somalia representative Wafaa Saeed told a Geneva press briefing.

The centers are for children with severe acute malnutrition as well as other complications such as measles, cholera, or malaria and are considered just a snapshot of the situation across the country.

“We don’t know the full picture. I have met many, many families whose children have died along the way (to centres)” said Victor Chinyama, the UNICEF spokesman in Mogadishu.

UNICEF said that disease outbreaks were increasing among children, with some 13,000 suspected measles cases reported in recent months of which 78 percent were children under five years of age.

Funding for Somalia has increased in recent weeks, and the United Nations’ $1.46 billion appeal is now 67 percent funded. But aid officials warned that it had come very late and that more was needed.

“We are going to be witnessing the death of children on an unimaginable scale if we don’t act fast,” said Audrey Crawford, Somalia’s country director at the Danish Refugee Council.

SOURCE: REUTERS

Editorial Team

By Editorial Team

The Editorial Team at HornDaily.com is a dynamic group of dedicated writers, editors, and analysts committed to delivering timely, insightful, and authoritative coverage of political, social, and cultural issues shaping the Horn of Africa. With a sharp focus on regional developments and their intersection with Western policies, the team provides clear analysis, reliable news, and informed commentary. Leveraging diverse expertise and a deep understanding of both local dynamics and global affairs, HornDaily.com fosters informed dialogue around transatlantic relations, regional integration, and the future of the Horn. Every piece published aligns with our mission to amplify regional voices and explore the geopolitical forces influencing the region.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Share via
Send this to a friend