UN hosts emergency meeting on Somalia famine

Rome (Sunatimes) An emergency meeting hosted by the United Nations Food agency is currently under way in Rome to mobilize action to fight famine in Somalia and other drought-hit nations in East Africa.

The one-day session of ministers from the G20 nations at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation headquarters in Rome is aimed at mobilizing international actions to fight famine in Somalia after France, the current chair of the G20 group of powerful economies requested the top-level meeting as drought crisis deepens in the Horn of African country.

According to the United Nations more than 10 million people are thought to be at risk of starvation, forcing the world body declared famine in two areas of southern Somalia.

World Food Programme says it still cannot reach 2.2 million people inside Somalia as refugees continue to pour over the Kenyan and Ethiopian borders.

Earlier, the UN has called the drought East Africa as the worst drought in 60 years with Somalia thought to be worst-hit.

By Muhiima Ahmed

IDPs in Mogadishu receive humanitarian aid

Mogadishu ( Sunatimes) The Somali national drought rescue committee has distributed humanitarian aid to drought displaced people in refugee camps in the districts of Howlwadag and Hodan in Mogadishu.

The committee distributed powdered Milk and dates which were part of humanitarian aid packages donated by the Kuwaiti government to the drought-stricken population in the camps, with each family receiving a tin of powdered Milk and three kilos of dates.

Meanwhile, a construction company, Issack Adan Group (AIG), has also delivered financial aid to at least 350 families in Mogadishu including those that have arrived yesterday.

The head of AIG, Issack Adan Ali, told Bar-kulan that they have donated Sosh200 Million to IDPs in Hodan district to help them meet their daily needs.

By Faduma Farah

IDPs in Lower Shabelle face harsh living conditions

Mogadishu (Sunatimes) Drought displaced families in one of the camps in No. 50 area in Lower Shabelle are reportedly facing harsh living conditions.

In an exclusive interview with Bar-kulan, a member of the Somali Parliament, Mohamed Omar Geedo, claimed that the affected comp is a home many to destitute families and are in dare need of humanitarian help.

The legislator said that at least six people die of starvation daily in the camp since humanitarian aid agencies cannot reach due to the Al-Shabaab led administration in the area.

Mr. Geedo urged the Somali government to do all means possible in reaching people who are on the verge of starvation in the camp, saying that even military interventions is welcomed to avert impending human catastrophe in the area.

Most of these families in the camp are said to be on their way to refugee camps in Mogadishu to get humanitarian help from the Somali government and humanitarian agencies in the area.

Meanwhile, over 247 families in the badly affected Hiran region are also facing humanitarian catastrophe.

According to some of the local elders in Bulo-burde, Halgan settlement and Buq-aqable, the IDPs in the area are facing difficulties since most of them have no shelter and food, saying that they are in dare need of humanitarian help.

By Hawo Abdulle

Beled-hawo children face severe malnutrition

Mogadishu (Sunatimes)  Children from drought displaced families from Bay and Bakol regions camping in Beled-hawo district, Gedo region, are facing severe malnutrition.

According to one of the local MCH attendants in the area, malnutrition rate among the children in the area is alarming, saying that if not immediately intervened, the situation will go out of hand.

The United Nations has declared famine in two regions of Somalia, with almost all children in those regions severely malnourished.

By Siham Mohamud