More than 700 children have already died in nutrition centres across Somalia. The distressing announcement by the United Nations children’s agency (UNICEF) on Tuesday, comes one day after it warned that numerous parts of Somalia will be struck by famine in the upcoming months. The centres were created for children with severe acute malnutrition and other diseases or medical complications such as cholera and measles or malaria. UNICEF’s Somalia representative, Wafaa Saeed said during a Geneva press briefing, “some 730 children have been reported to have died in food and nutrition centres across the country between January and July this year but the numbers could be more as many deaths go unreported”.
Disease is spreading
These horrific statistics have been considered just a glimpse of the situation across the country. UNICEF has also said that disease outbreaks were increasing among children in the country, with about 13,000 suspected cases of measles reported in recent months. An estimated 78% of the children were under the age of five years old. Regions in the Horn of Africa are on an unfortunate path towards a fifth-consecutive failed rainy season. Back in 2011, a fatal famine in Somalia claimed more than 250,000 lives – most of the victims were children.
International funding for the Horn of Africa region has increased in recent weeks, with the United Nations $1.4bn appeal now 67% fulfilled. However, aid officials have regarded these efforts as very late to the party, and more is needed to assist with humanitarian relief in Somalia.
Africa’s children under threat from climate crisis
Further inland, Chad is suffering from its heaviest seasonal rainfall in more than 30 years. The torrents have left parts of the capital only navigable by boat, and forced displaced families to pile into wooden boats to cross foul-smelling waters since the end of July. The latest statistics from the UN Humanitarian Office show that more than 440,000 people have been affected by the floods in Chad. Similar to the circumstances in Somalia, diseases have taken hold of displaced people, as makeshift shelters do not provide adequate shelter against circling mosquitoes.
While floods are not uncommon during the country’s rainy season – which runs from May to October – but the rains came early this year. It also fell more abundantly and quickly overwhelmed drainage channels and ponds.
zahraa@smile904.fm
