November 2, 2011. (Romereports.com) Three months ago a famine was declared in the Horn of Africa. Today the situation continues to worsen with over 160,000 children suffering from malnutrition. UNICEF has been working to provide aid in the region. They are renewing their plea to the international community for more aid.


Hannan Sulieman
Deputy Representative in Somalia (UNICEF)
“In terms of the situation in southern Somalia, we’re still in a situation where over 40 per cent of children are malnourished, and amongst them, 50 per cent of them are severely malnourished, which is really beyond any acceptable level whatsoever.”

UNICEF has said that some 13 million people in the region are in need of help. The drought has caused half a million Somalis to flee their country to refugee camps in neighboring countries of Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. The conditions have drastically affected the life expectancy of children.

Hannan Sulieman
Deputy Representative in Somalia (UNICEF)
“It is in 6 areas of Southern Somalia where the famine has been declared but again outside the famine areas, the situation is also incredibly difficult for children. We do feel that this is a children’s famine. Large numbers of children are dying on a daily basis.”

Thousands of children have already died. Over 300,000 will likely face the same fate unless more emergency aid is sent in the coming weeks and months.


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UNICEF
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