Somalia famine ‘killed 260,000 people’. Read more about sharing. Nearly 260,000 people died during the famine that hit Somalia from 2010 to 2012, a study shows. Half of them were children under the age of five, says the report by the UN and the US-funded Famine Early Warning Systems Network (Fews Net).
Where are the famine-like conditions in Africa?
Nigeria and Burkina Faso are also of particular concern as they have pockets where famine-like conditions are present. “In Somalia in 2011, 260,000 people died of hunger – and by the time the famine was actually declared – half of that number had already died,” Mr. Beasley recalled.
What happened in Somalia in 2011?
Continuing child malnutrition. Somalia was worst hit by the extreme drought in 2011 that affected more than 13 million people across the Horn of Africa. Tens of thousands of people fled their homes in search of food. The UN declared the famine over in February 2012.
What happened to Al-Shabaab in Somalia?
Bereft of support and power, Al-Shabaab withdrew from the capital city of Mogadishu, which they had occupied since 2008. The U.N. declared the Somali famine over in February 2012. However, the strain on al-Shabaab and similar organizations continues to grow as people demand more access to food aid.
Why did the drought in Somalia not lead to mass starvation?
Fortunately, this drought did not lead to mass starvation because the Somali government moved quickly to assist the people. They mobilised the population and sought the assistance of international allies to deliver food and water to the needy. Somalia’s last major famine was in 1992 and was not caused by drought.
How did Oxfam respond to the 2011 famine in Africa?
Published July 2011. Oxfam responded to the crisis by providing life-saving water, sanitation services, food, and cash, aiming to reach at least 3.5 million people, across Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. Famines result from a combination “triple failure”: production, access, and response.
