Struggle against food insecurity continues in Somalia

The situation in Somalia remains highly critical. Hundreds of thousands of Somalis are still displaced from their homes in search of security and food. Although humanitarian aid has started to reach the drought- and conflict-affected people, many are still struggling to survive, a press release issued by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Tuesday. Much of the livestock has been decimated and there is no hope for an improvement in the situation until the next harvest in December. The rainy season is set to begin in October, but even when it brings abundant rain it accounts for only 30 per cent of the yearly food production, which is not enough to meet the immense needs. 'Trying to lower the record high levels of malnutrition under such circumstances is an uphill battle,' said Andrea Heath, who is in charge of the ICRC's economic-security activities in Somalia. 'But we do have reason to be optimistic about children receiving treatment in therapeutic feeding centers run by the Somali Red Crescent Society. At least 95 per cent of them will be cured within two months.' Although military offensives have become less frequent in Mogadishu and are now taking place mainly in the border areas, the armed conflict continues to take its toll. Hit-and-run attacks and explosions of roadside bombs are reported several times a week in the capital. Tension is palpable along the Kenyan border, particularly in the Gedo region. In response to the worsening situation, the ICRC has considerably stepped up its activities in the central and southern parts of the country over the past few weeks and is planning to help an additional one million people by the end of the year. Alleviating food insecurity and malnutrition The ICRC has strengthened its support for therapeutic feeding centers run by the Somali Red Crescent. The centers offer treatment for children under five and other vulnerable people such as pregnant and lactating mothers. Over 10,000 children are currently being treated for severe acute malnutrition. The expanded set-up includes nine new outpatient therapeutic feeding centers in Gedo, Bakool, Middle Juba and Banadir and more staff for the 18 older centers. The ICRC and the Somali Red Crescent have also deployed nine mobile health and nutrition teams in addition to three that were mobilized earlier in the year. In addition, three new feeding centers have been opened in Kismayo to offer supplementary feeding for displaced and other needy people. In July and August, the ICRC and the Somali Red Crescent distributed one-month rations of beans, rice and oil to over 162,000 people in the areas of central and southern Somalia hardest hit by drought. 'Even as we strive to meet the most urgent needs, our long-term objective of reviving or boosting the livelihoods of the worst-off communities, wherever possible in a sustainable manner, remains unchanged,' said Pascal Mauchle, the head of the ICRC delegation for Somalia. In accordance with this aim, the ICRC distributed 134 irrigation pumps in July and August to help increase food production for over 6,200 people. In addition, more than 200 people are taking part in cash-for-work projects upgrading irrigation channels along the Shabelle River. Another 140 people have been given items to help them set up small businesses such as kiosks and salt production farms in Lower Shabelle.