The United Nations has warned that Somalia is sliding back into a severe hunger crisis, as parts of the capital are on the brink of famine.

The UN's Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) said Monday that Somalia's food security crisis is expected to deteriorate over the next several months “following poor performance of the major rainy season, shrinking humanitarian assistance and access, increasing malnutrition, conflict and surging food prices.”

The UN said that in Mogadishu the crisis is anticipated to spiral into “emergency” phase, just one step short of famine on its classification scale of hunger.


Thousands of people displaced by the conflict in Somalia live in basic makeshift shelters in Mogadishu, where al-Shabab militants launch regular attacks against the government.


Among the displaced civilians, “rates of acute malnutrition and mortality levels have surpassed emergency thresholds,” the UN said, adding that nationwide more than 200,000 acutely malnourished children under the age of five need urgent treatment.


Southern and central regions of Bakol, Gedo, Middle Juba, Hiran and Lower Shabelle are also badly affected.

On June 4, UN Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos called for USD 60 million in emergency funds for Somalia through summer months. She noted that the money is needed to prevent the African country “from slipping back into a major humanitarian crisis.”


Amos also said the United Nations Children’s Fund has warned that 50,000 children under the age of five could die in Somalia from severe malnutrition if funding is not provided.

Somalia was the hardest hit by severe drought in 2011 that affected more than 13 million people across the Horn of Africa.