UN warns of food crisis

The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator has expressed his "deep concern" over a worsening food crisis in Somalia. Kenzo Oshima said emergency relief was urgently needed to assist an estimated 300,000 people at risk of immediate starvation in Somalia, and called on donors to "provide the resources needed to forestall a serious humanitarian crisis". A further 450,000 people are also increasingly vulnerable. In a press statement issued on Monday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said food stocks were depleted and that 40,000 mt of food was urgently needed to avert a new disaster in Somalia. The statement also said that non-food items such as water and medical supplies were desperately needed to secure the wellbeing of tens of thousands of children at growing risk of malnutrition and disease. The food shortages have arisen largely as the result of the failure of the Gu (spring) and Deyr (autumn) rains, and have worsened since the 11 September attacks in the US, which had led to a reduction in crucial financial remittances from Somalis overseas which traditionally help Somalis at home to overcome difficult times.