Sixteen Somali children die of hunger
Somalia: At least sixteen children have died of hunger and
diseases caused by the lack of food in Somalia as the food crisis in the
Horn of Africa continues to escalate.Medical sources confirmed on
Saturday that the children died in lower Shabelle regional town of Merka,
a Press TV correspondent reported.
Saturday’s deaths come as the United Nations has warned that all
areas of southern Somalia are slipping into famine, adding that the
crisis will continue to worsen for at least three to four
months.Meanwhile, seven humanitarian flights carrying food and medical
supplies from Arab nations and the UNICEF aid groups have arrived in the
Somali capital city, Mogadishu.
Government officials say they will soon begin distributing food among
the starving people in south Mogadishu.The UN warned on Friday that it
had raised its appeal for urgent funds by a quarter to about $1.5
billion “to provide life-saving assistance to more than 12 million
people” across the four countries of the Horn.
Thousands of Somalis have fled to the neighboring Kenyan camp of
Dadaab, which is currently hosting more than 440,000 refugees.The Kenyan
government has urged the UN to set up camps inside Somalia, saying the
huge influx of refugees rushing to Kenya in search of food and shelter
is unmanageable.
The UN and aid agencies have described the current situation in the
East and Horn of Africa as the worst drought in 60 years and the “worst
humanitarian crisis in the world.”
Press TV |