Liz Ford guardian.co.uk, 18 November 2011
Internally displaced people wait to collect food aid from a distribution centre at Badbaado settlement camp in Somalia's capital Mogadishu. Photograph: Ismail Taxta/Reuters
Food security agencies warn that conflict now threatens relief efforts that have led to decline in malnutrition and deathsThree areas of Somalia are no longer considered to be famine zones, but 250,000 people in the country still face imminent starvation and millions more still need urgent relief, according to UN and US food security agencies.
The Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit for Somalia (FSNAU) and the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSN) said on Friday that the "massive scale-up" of relief efforts since September had led to a significant drop in the number of deaths and cases of acute malnutrition in Bay, Bakool and Lower Shabelle, which have now been downgraded from famine to emergency zones.
In Middle and Lower Juba, the average acute cases of malnutrition dropped from 35.1% in August to 29.3% in October. Significant declines were also observed in Bay Region and among internally displaced people in Mogadishu. Death rates have dropped in many areas.
However, the agencies warned that even with these improvements, "current levels of malnutrition and crude mortality remain two to four times higher than typical levels in Somalia for this time of year". Under-five death rates remain up to six times the average level for sub-Saharan Africa.
The agencies noted that deaths are likely to continue over the coming months. Overall, food security levels remain the worst in the world, and the worst in Somalia since the 1991-92 famine. They warned that "any significant interruption to humanitarian assistance or trade would result in a return to famine".
Around 4 million people are still in need of humanitarian relief in Somalia, 3 million in the south. Some 3.3 million people still need lifesaving assistance.
The agencies said the continuing conflict in Somalia and the heavy rains in the region that have increased the chances of waterborne diseases also make the situation precarious.
Heightened tensions between Kenya and Somalia have also exacerbated the situation. Kenyan troops invaded Somalia last month to flush out members of the terrorist group al-Shabaab in Somalia, which it blames for recent kidnappings and incursions.
Oxfam said on Friday that the continued fighting threatened to jeopardise any of the gains made in Somalia.
"When drought and famine made headline news, the international community responded generously with support. Now the conflict threatens to jeopardise the very relief efforts they're funding," said Senait Gebregziabher, Oxfam country director for Somalia.
"We should be celebrating one step forward, with fewer people at risk of starvation. Instead, we fear two steps back with yet more conflict. The international community should be putting its energy behind serious diplomacy, not more fighting."
Oxfam said that in Lower and Middle Juba aid to 27,000 people has remained suspended since the conflict escalated in south Somalia a month ago. An additional 58,000 people have been badly affected by delays in the distribution of crucial seeds and tools during the planting season. Further delays are expected in the coming weeks as the security situation remains volatile.
Sonia Zambakides, head of Save the Children's Somalia emergency response, added: "While there has been an improvement in these areas thanks to the international aid effort, children are still dying at a frightening rate across Somalia.
"The aid we're distributing is making a difference, but this crisis is nowhere near over, and any let-up in the response on the back of this news could cost the lives of thousands of children. We must not allow this fragile progress to be undone."
The FSNAU and the FEWSN said they did not expect famine in Somalia next year, although the knock-on effect of this year's crisis would still be felt in some areas
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2011/nov/18/famine-eases-somalia-threat-remains
Internally displaced people wait to collect food aid from a distribution centre at Badbaado settlement camp in Somalia's capital Mogadishu. Photograph: Ismail Taxta/Reuters
Food security agencies warn that conflict now threatens relief efforts that have led to decline in malnutrition and deathsThree areas of Somalia are no longer considered to be famine zones, but 250,000 people in the country still face imminent starvation and millions more still need urgent relief, according to UN and US food security agencies.
The Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit for Somalia (FSNAU) and the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSN) said on Friday that the "massive scale-up" of relief efforts since September had led to a significant drop in the number of deaths and cases of acute malnutrition in Bay, Bakool and Lower Shabelle, which have now been downgraded from famine to emergency zones.
In Middle and Lower Juba, the average acute cases of malnutrition dropped from 35.1% in August to 29.3% in October. Significant declines were also observed in Bay Region and among internally displaced people in Mogadishu. Death rates have dropped in many areas.
However, the agencies warned that even with these improvements, "current levels of malnutrition and crude mortality remain two to four times higher than typical levels in Somalia for this time of year". Under-five death rates remain up to six times the average level for sub-Saharan Africa.
The agencies noted that deaths are likely to continue over the coming months. Overall, food security levels remain the worst in the world, and the worst in Somalia since the 1991-92 famine. They warned that "any significant interruption to humanitarian assistance or trade would result in a return to famine".
Around 4 million people are still in need of humanitarian relief in Somalia, 3 million in the south. Some 3.3 million people still need lifesaving assistance.
The agencies said the continuing conflict in Somalia and the heavy rains in the region that have increased the chances of waterborne diseases also make the situation precarious.
Heightened tensions between Kenya and Somalia have also exacerbated the situation. Kenyan troops invaded Somalia last month to flush out members of the terrorist group al-Shabaab in Somalia, which it blames for recent kidnappings and incursions.
Oxfam said on Friday that the continued fighting threatened to jeopardise any of the gains made in Somalia.
"When drought and famine made headline news, the international community responded generously with support. Now the conflict threatens to jeopardise the very relief efforts they're funding," said Senait Gebregziabher, Oxfam country director for Somalia.
"We should be celebrating one step forward, with fewer people at risk of starvation. Instead, we fear two steps back with yet more conflict. The international community should be putting its energy behind serious diplomacy, not more fighting."
Oxfam said that in Lower and Middle Juba aid to 27,000 people has remained suspended since the conflict escalated in south Somalia a month ago. An additional 58,000 people have been badly affected by delays in the distribution of crucial seeds and tools during the planting season. Further delays are expected in the coming weeks as the security situation remains volatile.
Sonia Zambakides, head of Save the Children's Somalia emergency response, added: "While there has been an improvement in these areas thanks to the international aid effort, children are still dying at a frightening rate across Somalia.
"The aid we're distributing is making a difference, but this crisis is nowhere near over, and any let-up in the response on the back of this news could cost the lives of thousands of children. We must not allow this fragile progress to be undone."
The FSNAU and the FEWSN said they did not expect famine in Somalia next year, although the knock-on effect of this year's crisis would still be felt in some areas
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2011/nov/18/famine-eases-somalia-threat-remains
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