Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Claims that the Israeli occupation has withdrawn from areas in the neighborhoods of al-Zaytoun, al-Tuffah, and al-Shujaiya are false
Hamas: The two delegations stressed that any negotiations must lead to the achievement of our people's goals and aspirations, foremost among which is ending the war and the complete withdrawal of enemy forces
Hamas: A delegation from the Hamas leadership, led by the head of the leadership council, Mohammad Darwish, met with an Islamic Jihad delegation, headed by its Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah

Somalia to record 135 deaths a day due to drought: UN study

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 21 Mar 2023 00:23
  • 2 Shares
3 Min Read

The worst drought to hit the Horn of Africa in 40 years will threaten 100,000 people in Somalia with catastrophic levels of hunger.

  • x
  • so maliuhhhh
    A Somali family displaced on the outskirts of Dollow, Somalia, on September 20, 2022 (AP)

A study released on Monday by the Somali Health Ministry, the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF demonstrates that up to 135 deaths a day may occur in Somalia between January and June this year as a result of the record drought taking over the Horn of Africa. The total number of deaths is anticipated to range between 18,100 and 34,200.

The WHO warned earlier this month that the worst drought to hit the Horn of Africa in 40 years will threaten 100,000 people in Somalia with catastrophic levels of hunger. 

The study, carried out by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Imperial College London, names extreme weather conditions as the reason that may have contributed to 43,000 "excess deaths" in 2022 as opposed to the 2017 drought - children below the age of five were half of the victims.

Mamunur Rahman Malik, WHO representative to Somalia, said, "We are racing against time to prevent deaths and save lives," adding, "The cost of our inaction will mean that children, women, and other vulnerable people will pay with their lives while we hopelessly, helplessly witness the tragedy unfold."

Read next: Severe African drought expected in 2023: IGAD

Related News

African Union: Trump Africa travel ban risks strained diplomatic ties

Turkey to supply Somalia’s military with combat helicopters: Bloomberg

International community partially to blame 

After five failed rainy seasons in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia led to the deaths of millions of livestock, alongside destroyed crops and the displacement of more than one million people, a sixth rainy season is predicted by weather forecasters to fail as well.

Although famine thresholds set by the UN have not been reached, the organization confirms that more than half of Somalia's people will critically require humanitarian assistance this year.

Somalia was hit by a famine in 2011 which killed 260,000 people, more than half of them children under six, partly because the international community did not act fast enough, according to the UN.

Even though the country witnessed a drought in 2017, leaving more than six million people needing aid, the early and immediate humanitarian intervention helped dodge a famine situation. In August last year, the World Food Programme (WFP) organization said the number of people at risk of starvation in the drought-ravaged Horn of Africa has increased to 22 million.

It is worth noting that the government of Somalia has not been declaring its state of famine as it is concerned that it will undermine public trust and play into the hands of the terrorist group Al Shabaab, just as the military has launched a large-scale offensive against the insurgents, who have plagued the country for decades and continue to launch devastating attacks.

Read more: Despite ceasefire announcement, violence persists in Somaliland

It is also concerned that declaring famine may cause an outflow of people from affected areas into major cities and towns, pressuring already scarce resources and increasing crime.

  • Somalia
  • Horn of Africa
  • United Nations
  • famine
  • WHO
  • Drought
  • UNICEF

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS