Drought condition worsens food crisis in Somalia #somalia

"The latest assessments from the Food and Agricultural
Organization warn that the food crisis in Somalia will
deteriorate in the coming months, with drought conditions
already observed in parts of the country due to a poor rainy
season. Rainfall was recorded at less than 50 per cent of
normal levels during the March to June Gu rains.
Today we face a stark reality. The elements that could tip
Somalia into an acute crisis now stand before us - drought,
continued conflict, restricted flow of commercial goods,
increasing malnutrition and surging food prices.
Two months ago I warned that Somalia's fragile food
security situation was likely to worsen in the coming
months. This is now reality. In the coming months, for the
first time since the 2011 famine, we will see the number of
people in food security crisis and emergency go up again.
We cannot let these food security warnings fall on deaf
ears. I call on the donor community to make resources
available immediately so that relief organizations can take
action without delay. We can save lives today if we act
now.
Despite the dire humanitarian situation that is unfolding, the
Consolidated Appeal for Somalia is woefully underfunded at
25 per cent. A gap of about US$700 million is still required
to provide humanitarian assistance until the end of 2014, to
2.9 million people who are struggling to feed themselves.
Funding is urgently needed today so that aid agencies can
provide food, livelihood resources, health assistance and
nutritional support to people in the worst-affected areas. I
am especially concerned about 350,000 displaced people
living in deplorable conditions in Somalia's capital
Mogadishu, where acute malnutrition rates and mortality
levels have already surpassed emergency thresholds, and
where the situation is set to worsen."