ESAT News (May 31, 2017)
Agencies warn that all available relief food stock will be depleted by the end of June, leaving at least 7.78 million people without food assistance post-June.
Relief web, the information wing of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that given the deteriorating food security situation in the current drought belt, the food cluster has been assisting additional people from the original plan putting further strain on the limited resources.
It said new funding is needed urgently to address immediate requirements for relief food, which has a procurement and transportation lead time of three months.
At present, the World Food program (WFP) is working with donors to roll out expanded cash transfers in areas where there is food in markets, according to the report.
The humanitarian office said the food pipeline break comes at a time when the country enters the July-September lean season and when rising malnutrition rates are being reported especially in Somali region.
According to the report, following poor performing spring rains, the number of people receiving humanitarian assistance has increased from 5.6 million to 7.78 million in the first quarter of the year, and is expected to heighten further in the second half of the year.
Increased funding is needed urgently, in particular to address immediate requirements for food and nutrition, as well as clean drinking water, much of which is being delivered long distances by truck as regular wells have dried up.
The report, however, said improved spring rains in most drought-affected areas have improved pasture and water availability for human and livestock.