Somalia Thousands flee to Mogadishu due to drought and hunger and warnings of a humanitarian crisis

Sitting under the scorching sun, hungry women and children wait for food aid in a camp on the outskirts of the Somali capital, Mogadishu. They have walked for days to escape the drought that is now sweeping much of rural Somalia.

Thousands of Somalis flocked to the outskirts of the capital, Mogadishu, after walking for days to escape the drought that is now sweeping a large part of rural Somalia.

Women and children sit in the scorching sun waiting for food aid in a camp on the outskirts of the Somali capital, Mogadishu, as their growing ranks are expected to swell in the coming months, as the Horn of Africa faces its worst drought conditions in a decade.

The United Nations World Food Program warned this week that 13 million people in the region, including parts of Ethiopia and Kenya, face severe hunger in the first quarter of 2022. The agency warned that immediate assistance was needed to avert a major humanitarian crisis.

In November the Somali government declared a humanitarian emergency due to the drought with the worst affected areas including the south-central regions of Lower Juba, Gedo and Lower Shabelle regions.

The charity Save the Children said earlier this week of the drought in Somalia: “The impact on families has become more severe this season due to the result of multiple droughts extending in quick succession, deteriorating security situation, desert locust infestation, high food prices, low Remittances, and the lack of funds committed by donors.

It said in a statement that a survey conducted in November of 15 of Somalia's 18 districts concluded that "the majority of families are now living without meals on a regular basis."

It is reported that 250,000 people died of starvation in 2011, when the United Nations declared famine in some parts of the country, half of them were children.

The World Food Program said it needs $327 million to meet the immediate needs of 4.5 million people over the next six months, including in Somalia.

Somali leaders are also trying to mobilize domestic support, and many have responded.