There will be a food gap of close to 22,000 mt in southern Somalia over the next 12 months. In its monthly food security report, the European Union-funded and FAO-implemented Food Security Analysis Unit (FSAU) estimates that according to data collected during the August harvest more than 400,000 people will be affected by the shortfall. The report also warned that if security deteriorates then the food gap would likely increase further. In the Bay and Bakol region, southern Somalia, where coping mechanisms are already stretched, FSAU predict that any further constraints on peoples ability to cope could result in up to 50 percent of the population suffering a 40 percent food deficit over the next year. "This is equivalent to the very poor in the region having no food for five continuous months," said the report. While no widespread emergency conditions are expected in northern Somali territories, FSAU warns that food security for the poor in many food economy groups will become borderline.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
Share this article