Somalia: 750 thousand people may die of hunger

Somalia, September 5, 2011
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The UN has warned that at least 750 000 people may die of hunger in the context of the hugest drought in Somalia since 60 years.

The agency reported about tens of thousands of deaths by famine and Bay, in the southern, mainly controlled by the Islamist al-Shabab, has already become a region declared as “famine zone.”

There are at least 12 million people who need food assistance, the UN said. It added that 58% of children are malnourished.

The constant fighting and the lack of a government that can contain the population have resulted in thousands of deaths increased with the passing of the days, weeks and months. The crisis even extends over the neighboring territories of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda that also have been affected by the severe lack of rain.

Correspondents from around the world realize the enormous humanitarian crisis affecting the region, with heartbreaking stories of families that in order to get to shelters where they may be able to get some food, are forced to abandon some of their children in way, when they can no longer walk because of fatigue and hunger. They have no choice if they want to save the rest of their children and face the terrible decision which ones to choose.