Somalia Crisis Easing, but 2.12 Million People Remain Food Insecure

Issued: August 29, 2012

[b]August 29, 2012, Nairobi [/b]- Food security and nutrition data indicate continued improvements in food security in Somalia. During 2011, a Famine affected over 4 million people, or more than half of the population of Somalia, leading to tens of thousands of deaths. However, a report by Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU), managed by UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), with FEWS NET, estimates that 2.12 million people are in acute food security crisis for the August to December 2012 period, a 16 percent reduction from the beginning of the year. The improved situation is attributed to sustained humanitarian interventions over the last twelve months, improved food stocks at the household and market levels following an exceptional January 2012 Deyr harvest and improved milk availability and higher livestock prices in most pastoral areas of Somalia. Despite these improvements, lifesaving humanitarian assistance remains necessary between now and December to help food insecure populations meet immediate food needs, protect livelihoods, and build resilience. [url=http://www.fsnau.org/downloads/FSNAU-Technical-Release-August-29-2012.pdf]Download Report (PDF, 1.3MB)[/url]