MOGADISHU: The record drought in the Horn of Africa may cause 135 deaths a day in Somalia from January to June this year, the health ministry, UNICEF, and WHO said in a study published Monday.
Earlier this month, the World Health Organization warned that about 100,000 people in the fragile country were facing devastating levels of hunger because of the worst drought in the region in 4 decades.
Lives at risk in six months
Monday’s study used a statistical model to asses that up to 135 Somali citizens could lose their lives to drought-related reasons every day during this year’s first six months, with the total casualties projected to be between 18,100 and 34,200.
It also warned that the extreme weather conditions may have caused 43,000 “excess deaths” last year compared to a 2017 drought, with children under five accounting for half the casualties.
WHO representative to Somalia Mamunur Rahman Malik said that time is short to prevent casualties and save lives.
He said that the cost of the inaction would mean that women, children, and other vulnerable people would pay with their precious while WHO would helplessly and hopelessly witness the tragedy.
Five straight failed rainy seasons in parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia have wiped out millions of livestock, destroyed crops, and forced over one million people to leave homes for water and food.
