Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Mogadishu (Agenzia Fides) - The Somali crisis has hit the Country for more than 20 years. Currently famine, war and disease exacerbate the situation. Humanitarian agencies that are having to cope with a further imminent humanitarian crisis, have launched their warning for a more appropriate action, given that in the Country about 3 million people are suffering food insecurity and there are 50 thousand malnourished children. Very little rainfall is the main cause of the drought, but also the ongoing conflicts make the distribution of aid particularly difficult. In this complicated situation, the proliferation of infections and diseases increase and make the situation worse. Only 30% of Somalis have access to safe drinking water and less than 25% have access to health services. Pregnant women register the second highest mortality rate in the world and polio, which had been eradicated from the Country, recorded 193 cases last year. Humanitarian agencies warn that only 12% of the funds have been distributed this year. Between 2010 and 2012 famine had already caused the death of about 260 million people in Somalia, more than half of them were children under 5 years of age. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 19/05/2014)
