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| Africa Horn |
| UN: Two million Somalis could die of starvation amid drought |
| 2019-06-06 |
| [ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] A United Nations ...the Oyster Bay money pit... emergency relief coordinator says more than two million men, women and kiddies could die of starvation in Somalia by summer’s end if international aid is not sent quickly to the drought-stricken African country. UN Undersecretary-General Mark Lowcock says about $700 million is needed after a rainless season that has killed both livestock and crops. He said on Tuesday that the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund has allocated $45 million to cover food shortages, water and daily necessities in Somalia as well as parts of Kenya and Æthiopia affected by droughts. Of a Somali population of 15 million people, more than 3 million are struggling just to meet minimum food requirements, he said, and the shortages are about 40 percent worse now than this past winter. "What was forecast to be an average rainy season in Somalia is now one of the driest on record in over 35 years," he said. "Communities that were already vulnerable due to past droughts are again facing severe hunger and water scarcity and are at risk from deadly communicable diseases" he added. The UN aid complements efforts by governments of the three countries to assist their people, especially those with disabilities or who are internally displaced. Somalia’s humanitarian fund is currently depleted. If financial aid is delayed, the cost of saving lives on the margin of death are much higher, Lowcock said, adding that the option then is to turn to expensive, therapeutic feeding programs. "We could have a quick response now, which would be cheaper, reduce human suffering and more effective, or we can wait for a few months until we get all those horrible pictures on our TV screens and social media of starving kids," Lowcock said. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #8 Better than having them raping and killing here. |
| Posted by: charger 2019-06-06 17:19 |
| #7 While Ilhan Omar hobnobs with hollywood. Why should we care ? |
| Posted by: Dron66046 2019-06-06 14:50 |
| #6 #5 - I like it. Starting with that pig-ignorant Joo hater Ilhan Omar |
| Posted by: Frank G 2019-06-06 14:27 |
| #5 Best case, the land could be repopulated with Minnesota Somalis. |
| Posted by: Caveman, Speaking for Ringo 2019-06-06 14:07 |
| #4 No thanks, not today. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2019-06-06 11:44 |
| #3 Bad luck |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2019-06-06 11:20 |
| #2 Hell to be them, eh? |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2019-06-06 09:02 |
| #1 so we need you too write a check |
| Posted by: chris 2019-06-06 06:48 |