United Nations: Somalia in "Catastrophic Emergency"

The United Nations has warned that Somalia is experiencing a catastrophic emergency due to the longest and harshest drought in the country's history. Adam Abdelmoula, the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Somalia, announced during a joint meeting of the Arab League and the United Nations that "Somalia is suffering from the failure of the fifth consecutive rainy season, with expectations of a sixth failed season next year." Abdelmoula outlined the situation, which has impacted nearly half of Somalia's population, stating: "While we gather here today, approximately 7.8 million Somalis, nearly half of the population, are suffering from drought, and around 1.3 million people have been displaced since January 2021." He added that 6.7 million people are expected to face severe levels of "food insecurity." A rare famine may soon be declared, which would be the first significant declaration of its kind anywhere in the world since the famine experienced in Somalia a decade ago.