UN allocates 3.2 mln USD for Somalia drought response

The UN humanitarian agency said Wednesday that it has allocated about 3.2 million U.S. dollars to support humanitarian response to drought-affected families in Somalia

Peter de Clercq, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, said the funds from Sweden to the Somalia Humanitarian Fund (SHF) will allow humanitarian partners to deliver food, clean water and life-saving health, nutrition and sanitation and hygiene services.

According to the United Nations, at least 5 million Somalis -- more than 40 percent of the country's population -- are currently in need of humanitarian assistance, including more than 320,000 children under five who are acutely malnourished.

"More resources are urgently needed to help affected communities cope with the deteriorating situation before we descend even further towards a disastrous scenario," de Clercq said.

He said some 1 million dollars will support food-insecure families in the areas most affected by drought with unconditional cash grants, emergency water and health support for livestock.

According to de Clercq, another 380,000 dollars will go to health services, including critical primary health care and improved early warning surveillance and response systems.

"Water and sanitation programmes will be boosted with almost 1.1 million dollars and some 800,000 dollars will be used to procure life-saving nutrition supplies, including ready-to-use therapeutic food," the statement said. Endit