Millions of Somalis face starvation as drought worsens

The World Health Organization warned that millions of people in East Africa including Somalia face the threat of starvation and says that drought, climate change, rising prices and an ongoing civil war are all contributing to worsening food insecurity.

The warnings have been gradually building for months, as the situation worsens. The Horn of Africa state has two rainy seasons per year, but the last four have been unusually dry. In some regions of Somalia, it has not rained in two years.

The drought has had a devastating effect on crop yields and on livestock populations. In Somalia, vegetable and grain production is expected to drop by about 80% this year.

Somalia and the United Nations had repeatedly asked the international community to react to this threat the Somali people have faced and extend urgent support to the victims.