The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Famine Review Committee (IPC-FRC) has warned of famine in the Buur Hakaba and Baidoa districts of Southern Somalia between October and December 2022.

The Committee, who gave the warning during the release of its projection, stated that the absence of an urgent increase in Humanitarian assistance will generate to famine.

The Committee noted that America is gravely concerned by the stark forecast and by the outsized scale of Humanitarian need throughout the Country, primarily as a result of a historically unprecedented drought marked by four back-to-back failed Rainy Seasons.

According to them, more than seven million people are facing grave hunger and many of them are facing outright starvation.

“Somalia is a country in which many families have yet to fully recover from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the last regional drought in 2017 or the last famine in 2011, leaving many households with few resources to confront the effects of the current drought. Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has also significantly increased the cost of food, fertiliser and fuel, exacerbating Humanitarian needs across the Region.’’

“This famine projection does not have to come to pass. When another drought devastated Somalia in 2017, rapid international action helped to avert a famine.’’

‘’Today, a significant increase in Humanitarian assistance can still help prevent mass starvation and deaths. But the window to prevent this famine projection from becoming a reality is closing quickly and the next several weeks are critical.’’

The Committee added that the World Meteorological Organisation recently reported new models that show with a high degree of confidence that they are entering the fifth consecutive failed Rainy Season.

Continued drought combined with catastrophic hunger, disease and staggering displacement could condemn people in Somalia, who already find themselves in dire conditions to long-lasting Human suffering and despair.