Over a million somalis in critical danger as food crisis expected to worsen

Extreme food crisis has worsened in Somalia due to poor rains, trade disruptions and reduced humanitarian aid in the country, and will continue to deteriorate until the start of the Deyr rains in October, according to the United Nations.

Over one million people in Somalia are facing acute malnutrition, according to a new report released by the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) on Tuesday.

An estimated 1,025,000 people will soon be in Crisis and Emergency situations – meaning people who require urgent lifesaving humanitarian assistance and livelihood support just to meet immediate food needs. This number represents an increase of 20 percent since January of 2014, according to the recent findings.

The study also indicates that some 218,000 children under the age of five are acutely malnourished – a 7 percent increase since January. This figure includes 43,800 children who face severe malnutrition and a higher risk of death.

The food crisis is a result of delayed and erratic rainfall, which has affected crop production and contributed to shortages in drinking water, poor livestock performance and reduced access to milk in several areas.

According to the FAO, cereal harvest in July and August is estimated to be 37 percent below the long-term average and 28 percent below the five-year average.

The country has also seen increased fighting between government forces and insurgence in the country, which has contributed to disrupted access to agriculture production and employment, and drastically reduced trade possibilities, according to the FAO.

Those experiencing the worst of the crisis are found in both rural and urban areas, and among displaced populations of Bari, Nugaal, South Mudug, Galgaduud, Hiraan, Middle Shabelle, Lower Shabelle, Bakool, Gedo, Middle Juba and Banadir regions.