Somalia is once again approaching the brink of catastrophe, agencies warn as the country is facing one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. Source: OSV News.
International aid agencies, including those connected to the Catholic Church, warn that millions lack access to basic, life-saving services and urgently need sustained global support.
“Nearly 6.5 million people across Somalia are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, while more than 1.8 million children are suffering from acute malnutrition,” a group of aid organisations, including Save the Children International and SOS Children’s Villages International, said in a joint statement last week.
“Among them, hundreds of thousands face severe acute malnutrition requiring urgent treatment.”
These are not simply numbers, the organisations said, “they represent children going to bed hungry, families forced from their homes by repeated drought and conflict and mothers struggling to make impossible trade-offs to keep their children alive”.
The numbers correspond with the latest April-June data from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification initiative — a standardised global framework used to classify, measure and communicate the magnitude of food insecurity and malnutrition.
Djibouti Bishop Jamal Boulos Sleiman Daibes, who is also the apostolic administrator of Mogadishu, is calling for continued international attention and solidarity, pointing to the country’s fragile and complex humanitarian reality.
“The humanitarian situation is indeed very serious,” Bishop Daibes told OSV News, noting that the scale of the crisis is vast, driven by recurrent drought, displacement, food insecurity and climate shocks, while available resources remain insufficient.
“For this reason, continued international solidarity and support remain essential.”
Millions of people are without essential services such as health care and clean water, even as the Church – through Caritas Somalia and in collaboration with humanitarian organisations and international partners – continues to respond.
“One can also observe the resilience and dignity of the Somali people, as well as ongoing efforts by local authorities and international partners to strengthen stability and promote recovery,” Bishop Daibes said.
“Nevertheless, the humanitarian needs remain immense and require sustained international attention and solidarity.”
FULL STORY
Somalia is nearing the brink of humanitarian catastrophe, aid and church organisations warn (By Fredrick Nzwili, OSV News)
