AhlulBayt News Agency

source : ITV
Monday

5 September 2011

7:30:00 PM
263919

UN warns of 750,000 deaths in Somalia

The Unitd Nations has warned that as many as 750,000 people could die as Somalia's drought worsens in the coming months.

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The UN has also declared a new sixth famine zone in southern Somalia.

The UN says tens of thousands of people have died after what is said to be East Africa's worst drought for 60 years.

Some 12 million people across the region need food aid, the UN says.

According to a senior UN technical adviser, Grainne Moloney,: "The rate of malnutrition [among children] in Bay region of southern Somalia is 58%. This is a record rate of acute malnutrition,".

This is almost double the rate at which a famine is declared.

"In total, 4 million people are in crisis in Somalia, with 750,000 people at risk of death in the coming four months in the absence of adequate response,"

Neighbouring Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda have also been affected by the severe lack of rain

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