Food catastrophe worsens in Somalia, children dying from hunger

More than 200,000 people in Somalia are suffering food shortages and many are dying of hunger and that number set to rise to over 700,000 next year, according to a report by an alliance of U.N. agencies and aid groups.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which sets the global standard for determining the severity of food crises, said its most acute level, “IPC Phase 5 Famine”, had been temporarily deterred but things were getting worse.

“That people are dying from hunger, there’s no doubt about it, but I cannot put a number on it,” said Jens Laerke, spokesperson of the U.N. humanitarian office (OCHA).”

The OCHA is appealing for $2.3 billion to respond to the crisis in Somalia, of which it has so far received $1.3 billion, or 55.2%.