A malnourished Somali child covers his face with an empty container in a village near the Somali town of Dinsor, southwestern Somalia. (Simon Maina/AFP/Getty Images)
NAIROBI—More than 600,000 people in war-ravaged southern Somalia are suffering from severe malnutrition in a part of country that used to be considered its "bread basket", according to an aid agency report.
The Food Security Analysis Unit, which groups several relief agencies, published an assessment of nutrition in Somalia's Lower and Middle Shabelle region late on Monday.
"Nutrition ... has deteriorated dramatically since March in the ... region, (which is) generally the most resilient and the bread basket of the country," the report said.
This was partly owing to poor rains, and partly to disruptions in trade caused by a conflict that has killed hundreds since the Ethiopia-backed interim government ousted Islamists from Mogadishu in December, sparking an insurgency.
The report estimated inflation in the past three months to be roughly 40 to 60 percent.
"All of these shocks in a short period of time have resulted in a sudden-onset humanitarian emergency with high rates of acute and severe malnutrition affecting more than 600,000 people," it said.
The Horn of Africa country, which has had no functioning government since the fall of Siad Barre's regime in 1991, has suffered an upsurge in clashes in past days.
Hundreds of thousands have fled their homes since the insurgency started.
"The number of people in need of assistance has increased to 1.5 million. Of this ... 295,000 require life-saving interventions," the report said.
The Food Security Analysis Unit, which groups several relief agencies, published an assessment of nutrition in Somalia's Lower and Middle Shabelle region late on Monday.
"Nutrition ... has deteriorated dramatically since March in the ... region, (which is) generally the most resilient and the bread basket of the country," the report said.
This was partly owing to poor rains, and partly to disruptions in trade caused by a conflict that has killed hundreds since the Ethiopia-backed interim government ousted Islamists from Mogadishu in December, sparking an insurgency.
The report estimated inflation in the past three months to be roughly 40 to 60 percent.
"All of these shocks in a short period of time have resulted in a sudden-onset humanitarian emergency with high rates of acute and severe malnutrition affecting more than 600,000 people," it said.
The Horn of Africa country, which has had no functioning government since the fall of Siad Barre's regime in 1991, has suffered an upsurge in clashes in past days.
Hundreds of thousands have fled their homes since the insurgency started.
"The number of people in need of assistance has increased to 1.5 million. Of this ... 295,000 require life-saving interventions," the report said.
Sudden on-set humanitarian emergency breaks in the Shabelle Regions of Somalia amid escalating civil insecurity (click here)
Released Jointly by The Food Security Analysis Unit for Somalia (FAO/FSAU) and FEWSNET Somalia
The food security and nutrition situation has deteriorated dramatically since March in the Lower and Middle Shabelle regions of Somalia, generally the most resilient region and 'bread basket' of the country. This region is reeling under the impact of multiple recent shocks, including the lowest cereal crop production in a decade (44% of Post War Average) due to below normal Gu season rains, sharp rates of inflation (40% to 60% increases in last three months), disruptions in trade and economic activities, a high and increasing concentration of displaced people fleeing from Mogadishu, deteriorating health conditions following an Acute Watery Diarrhoea outbreak and continuing and escalating civil insecurity. All of these shocks in a short period of time have resulted in a sudden on-set Humanitarian Emergency with high rates of acute and severe malnutrition affecting more than 600,000 people in Lower and Middle Shabelle and Mogadishu....
Released Jointly by The Food Security Analysis Unit for Somalia (FAO/FSAU) and FEWSNET Somalia
The food security and nutrition situation has deteriorated dramatically since March in the Lower and Middle Shabelle regions of Somalia, generally the most resilient region and 'bread basket' of the country. This region is reeling under the impact of multiple recent shocks, including the lowest cereal crop production in a decade (44% of Post War Average) due to below normal Gu season rains, sharp rates of inflation (40% to 60% increases in last three months), disruptions in trade and economic activities, a high and increasing concentration of displaced people fleeing from Mogadishu, deteriorating health conditions following an Acute Watery Diarrhoea outbreak and continuing and escalating civil insecurity. All of these shocks in a short period of time have resulted in a sudden on-set Humanitarian Emergency with high rates of acute and severe malnutrition affecting more than 600,000 people in Lower and Middle Shabelle and Mogadishu....
