Cereal Shortfall Looms Over Somalia As Drought Cuts Crops, UN Warns

UN News Service (New York)

June 29, 2004
Posted to the web June 30, 2004

With the prolonged Horn of Africa drought reducing Somalia's crops, the United Nations is warning that the country's cereal shortfall could reach 70,000 tons.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) says only about 20 per cent of the areas in the northeast have reportedly had enough rainfall during April and May. In certain areas, "destitution is on the rise and weak animals continue to die," the agency said.

Rains in northern Somalia have been inadequate for four years in a row.

WFP plans to issue an appeal shortly for funds to deal with the unfolding hardships in Somalia due to the ongoing drought. The agency expects that at least 20,000 extra tons of food relief will be needed to assist the victims.

The northern pastoral areas have been affected by the absence of rain, while many agricultural areas of southern Somalia have reported total or near-total crop failure, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.