HUNGER THREATENS HALF MILLION SOMALIS

HUNGER THREATENS HALF MILLION SOMALIS

(Reissued as received.)

NAIROBI, 22 August (WFP) -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned today that more than half a million Somalis face a serious food crisis, following the almost total failure of the main rains in southern Somalia.

The worst affected areas are Gedo and the Bay-Bakool sorghum belt which borders southeastern Ethiopia and northeastern Kenya.  This area usually produces 70 to 75 per cent of the annual sorghum crop.  However, this year’s harvest is not expected to reach more than ten per cent of the average yield.

“The situation is extremely worrying,” said Kevin Farrell, WFP’s Country Director for Somalia who has just returned from some of the worst affected villages.  “Somalia will need 40,000 metric tonnes of food assistance in the coming months if we are to avoid a humanitarian tragedy.”

The dry weather has also seriously affected the grazing and fodder conditions for livestock.  Many families have already begun to take their animals elsewhere in search of better grazing while others have left the area seeking alternative means of survival.  Migration is normal in this region, but this year it has started far too early.

“We are appealing to donors to respond urgently,” said Farrell.  “We must be in a position to act now to prevent more people from leaving their homes and losing what little they have.  We want to avoid a catastrophe in the months to come.”

The WFP is deeply concerned that food is made available to those worst affected by this drought, and has already issued an appeal for 20,000 metric tonnes of food assistance for Somalia.

“The effects of the crop failure in what is one of the most productive areas of Somalia, the Bay-Bakool sorghum belt, could be very far reaching,” said Farrell.  “It means that elsewhere there will be less food available in the markets and prices can be expected to increase significantly in the coming months.” 

The poor harvest is hitting many areas where levels of malnutrition have been relatively high for the last two years.  Assessments carried out in Bay, Bakool and Gedo as well as information collected from feeding centres indicate that many poor families are at the end of their resources.  Most of the poorer

households have no stocks from previous years and possibilities to find jobs or generate income are very limited.

Low cereal production and resultant food shortages will impoverish, even further, families who already live on very little, and whose nutritional state is already fragile.

“I have seen myself that many of the underground food stores, which should be full at this time of the year, are now empty,” said Farrell.  “When asked how would they cope during the next few months, many people simply told me they hoped Allah would help them.”

Many pastoral households in the north of Somalia are also suffering the effects of very poor rains.  Grazing conditions are reportedly bad for this time of year, which can be expected to result in significantly reduced milk production and a deterioration of the livestock condition.

The ban on livestock from Somalia imposed in September 2000 by the Gulf States -- traditionally big markets for the livestock raised in the northern region -- has already badly hurt the economy of local pastoral populations.

The WFP is the United Nations’ front-line agency in the fight against global hunger.  In 2000, WFP fed more than 83 million people in 83 countries including most of the world’s refugees and internally displaced people.  As the largest provider of nutritious meals to poor school children, WFP has launched a global campaign aimed at ensuring that the world’s 300 million undernourished children are educated.

Recent WFP video footage and digital stills of the bay region of Somalia are available.

For more information please contact:  Laura Melo, Information Officer, Nairobi, Tel. + 254-2-622179 or + 254 72 702648.  Trevor Rowe, WFP Chief Spokesperson, Tel. + 39-06-6513-2602.  Christiane Berthiaume, Public Affairs Officer, WFP/Geneva, Tel.+41-22-9178564.  Abby Spring, Public Affairs Officer, WFP/New York, Tel. +1-212-963-5196.

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