MSF Health Adviser Mitchell Sangma said the United States had cut its support to aid agencies in the country from $70 million last year to no funding this year, leaving aid groups struggling to respond as needs rise.
Other Western donors have also cut funding.
“This year we have admitted 22 000 nutrition cases, more than 80% higher than last year. When we need this massive scale-up in intervention measures, we are seeing less interest from donor support,” Sangma said.
A July survey by MSF of 888 households in 14 displacement sites in Baidoa, southwest Somalia, found that one in four children was severely malnourished.
One third of families said they were surviving on one meal a day, while only 2% could afford three meals.
Somalia is facing a worsening hunger crisis after repeated failed rainy seasons devastated crops, killed livestock and depleted water supplies.
Conflict and insecurity have compounded the crisis, disrupting livelihoods and limiting access to food, healthcare and aid.
–Reuters–
