Somali families affected by drought in Rural areas are forced to make impossible choices, including traveling long distances to access Health and food services on Empty stomach or stay home and suffering in Silence.
Somalia has four failed Rainy seasons, pushing the country into a state of drought and forcing pastoral communities to leave their lands homes in Search of pastures and water.
John Beslink, Country Representative in Somalia for Doctors Without Borders Medical Charity (MSF – Medecins Sans Frontieres), in an interview with Anadolu Agency (AA) in Interview that some families left with stark choices.
“had brought one A child to a health center means leaving behind Others and livestock / livelihood. So sometimes they can’t bring the sick/malnourished child to the health centre.”
said a lot people in Somalia are shepherds and their flocks dying Because of the drought, so now they have to decide whether to should walk long distances for access Food and medicine.
Measles outbreak and malnutrition
Bislink said Somalia is in the midst of a drought also facing Measles spread.
“Measles is a disease that can be prevented if you are vaccinated. But due to many factors such as the effect of COVID-19, drought and insecurity, there have been low levels of immunization,” he said.
MSF, who was operating in horn of Africa for decades, he said common And preventable diseases like Measles and diarrhea now leading causes of death within children in Somalia and Somaliland.
Beslink said Doctors Without Borders teams Experienced nearly 6000 suspected measles cases between the start of The year And the middle of May in Multiple hospitals across Somalia and Somaliland.
“The outbreak remains massive and at unacceptable levels but where are we workcases have reduced, Bislink said, adding widespread water scarcity and food and livelihood insecurity in crowded camps creating the conditions for Diseases that spread fast.
He said the charity is under severe pressure because they are seeing increasing numbers of people Seek medical help.
Doctors without Borders Organization says he is also Seeing very painful marks of Among severe malnutrition children.
In February, we have teams in Baidoa was examined 81706 children under the generation of five. that they found Severe acute malnutrition rates of 3% and global severe malnutrition rates of 17%”.
Bakri Abu Bakr, Doctors Without Borders program manager in somalia said in one In the week alone, they admitted nearly 1,000 children For outpatient therapeutic nutrition program in 20 different centers around Baidoa city.
he is added that 30% of The children They were severely malnourished, indicating that they were still in an acute emergency situation.
Approximately half of Somalia in need
More than 7 million Somalis – approx half The state population – be in need of Humanitarian aid and 1.5 million children They are severely malnourished.
“If we don’t act now, thousands will do so dieand any delay is not a file option To save lives immediately, “Adam Abdel Mawla, United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia told Anadolu Agency during his visit to the table region.
A humanitarian delegation headed by the Somali President special envoy for dehydration response on Monday Dolow visited, one of The worst drought-hit cities in country, to see the humanitarian crisis and famine unfold in The region.
Abdul Mawla said eight areas in Somalia now facing famine-like Terms and 366000 people in country will die By September if humanitarian assistance does not expand up as such soon as such possible.
Millions of people All over Africa risk of Intense hunger due to the exacerbation of droughts caused Because of late rain and other cases.
Experts blame climate change for main driver for Drought in horn of Africa regionwhich has semi-arid conditions.
Many trees have been cut down in slash of Southern Somalia for making charcoal.
the coast region and Madagascar also faced with Drought. It was Madagascar hit by six tropical weather Systems from January to April this year and killing at least 214 people It affects about 571,100 across the country.
