The United Nations has warned that famine is imminent in six districts of Somalia due to drought, high food costs, and a lack of humanitarian aid reaching the most vulnerable populations.

This was stated during a press conference held by Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, at the international organization's permanent headquarters in New York.

Dujarric said that Somalia faces the threat of starvation from now until next June if there is still no rain, food prices continue to rise, and humanitarian assistance does not reach the most vulnerable population.

Read more: Somalia’s Worsening Drought Affects 2.3 million people: UN

He pointed out that as of April 7, the humanitarian response plan for 2022 remained significantly underfunded, as it was covered by only 4.4%, explaining that this plan requires nearly $1.5 billion to assist 5.5 million people of the most vulnerable Somalis.

He continued that drought is worsening across Somalia, with an estimated 4.9 million people affected, including 719,000 internally displaced and acute food insecurity, which has increased significantly since the beginning of the year.

Read more: Acute hunger threatens 1 in 4 Somalis: UN

Dujarric indicated that up to 80% of water sources are drying up and water levels in the Shabelle and Juba rivers have hit historical low levels, at a time when UN estimates indicate that about 3.5 million people currently lack access to adequate water. 

It is noteworthy that the International Organization for Migration said yesterday that millions of people are facing a humanitarian crisis due to drought in the Horn of Africa, noting that the region is in the grip of the worst drought in decades.

An estimated 15 million people have been severely affected by drought in Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia, nearly 3, 5, and 7 million people in each country respectively, the organization reported.

Read more: UN: 13 million face hunger as drought engulfs Horn of Africa