Somali Food Aid Arrives But 'Catastrophic' Drought Tightens Grip

The Somali government received 40 containers of food aid from the United Arab Emirates on August 13, 2022, amid concerns over famine in the country. The drought has already displaced one million people, who joined nearly 2 million other internally displaced people, who fled Somalia's previous drought.

Somalia is witnessing its worst drought in more than 40 years, which has devastated 90% of the country. The drought has affected more than 7 million people, and widespread malnutrition and drought-related illnesses have killed more than 500 children.

Authorities told VOA that more than 50,000 people displaced by the drought have fled to camps in the town of Dolow in the Gedo region in search of food, water, shelter and assistance.

Abdullahi Ahmed Jama Ilkajir, Somalia's ports and marine minister, said the food assistance will be delivered and distributed to all drought-hit areas in the country.

The drought devastating the Horn of Africa has hit Somalia the hardest. The UN and the Somali government earlier warned that the severe drought is putting some areas in central and southern Somalia at an increased risk of famine as acute food insecurity, malnutrition and mortality worsens.