![LARGER SOMALIA SLIDING INTO ‘DIRE’ FAMINE -UN](https://africaequity.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/AC721933-906C-43CA-88A1-07D18C552E55.jpeg)
Faith Nyasuguta
The UN has cautioned that eight of the 18 regions in Somalia are now at huge risk of sliding into famine by September, due to a devastating drought and the war in Ukraine.
At the moment, about 200 children have succumbed to malnutrition and disease since January.
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The number of people suffering from food insecurity has risen to seven million people compared to 4.5 million in May.
“While nearly four million people [in Somalia] have received assistance since January, we need much more cash, greater resources to meet growing needs and avert famine,” Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary General said.
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The caution comes even as the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization released new figures showing that about 10% of the world’s population are affected by hunger.
Eastern Africa and the Sahel are the most affected regions in Africa.