UN to level up humanitarian assistance to avoid famine in Somalia

The United Nations is increasing its humanitarian assistance to avoid famine in Somalia. According to the latest drought situation report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Somalia’s drought emergency has deteriorated to a point where the country is facing the risk of famine.

OCHA noted that humanitarian agencies, authorities and local communities are ramping up responses and reprogramming activities to address the impact of the drought, adding that the levels of need are rapidly rising, surpassing available capacities and resources.

It said the escalating emergency calls for sustained scaling up of response and flexibility in reprogramming, especially given that weather forecasts are predicting an average to below-average rainy season this month.