KENYA: United Nations agriculture body (FAO) declares Somalia famine free after a bumper harvest but warns of a recurrence in 100 days if farmers are not supported

Record ID: 362179

  • Title: KENYA: United Nations agriculture body (FAO) declares Somalia famine free after a bumper harvest but warns of a recurrence in 100 days if farmers are not supported
  • Date: 4th February 2012
  • Summary: NAIROBI, KENYA (FEBRUARY 3, 2012) (REUTERS) (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION DIRECTOR GENERAL (FAO) JOSE GRAZIANO AND UNITED NATION'S HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR FOR SOMALIA MARK BOWDEN AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE FAO AND UN LOGOS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOSE GRAZIANO, DIRECTOR GENERAL, FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
  • Embargoed: 19th February 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAE3TCLN5TJO72JZ7APK0CFFEJN
  • Story Text: An exceptional harvest after good rains and food deliveries by aid agencies have ended famine in Somalia although conditions remain fragile and could worsen, the United Nations said on Friday (February 3).
    Food and Agriculture Organisation Director General, Jose Graziano said the latest harvest in Somalia was double the average of the past 17 years, and this had lowered food prices, though mortality rates in southern Somalia were still among the highest in the world.
    "We got this season more than 200 percent improvements in some food staple crops and we can do that if we are able to support the farmers in this forthcoming 90 days. We have less than 100 days to avoid another famine in the region, that is the important message," said Graziano The U.N. said initially 750,000 Somalis faced imminent starvation and lowered this to 250,000 by November. Six months after famine was declared, 4 million Somalis were in need of aid and the U.N. said the number now stood at 2.34 million.
    "Good news does not mean that the crisis is over. We still have a huge problem in the region particularly in Somalia and also in other countries that you know are facing similar situation like the Sahel region in particular the South Sudan," added Graziano While aid deliveries to some 180,000 people in camps in the capital Mogadishu have improved the situation there, fighting in southern and central Somalia is still hampering food deliveries to the worst-hit areas.
    Government forces have been fighting Islamist rebels for the past five years, while Kenyan and Ethiopian forces both moved into the country last year to help fight the al Qaeda-linked militants al Shabaab.
    The fighting, combined with attacks on aid workers and a history of aid being manipulated for political gain, means Somalia is one of the toughest countries for relief agencies to operate in.
    "Access to the vulnerable populations remains a major challenge. However I believe that through inevitable planning, strengthening local partnerships we have been able to mitigate the worst effects of the famine but we also really rely on the humanity off all parties to conflict to demonstrate their continuous commitment to the Somali people," said Mark Bowden, UN's humanitarian coordinator for Somalia Al Shabaab expelled the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Monday, one of the few international aid agencies delivering food aid to areas under rebel control, accusing it of providing out-of-date food to women and children.
    The ICRC said it regretted the decision as it halted a programme that had given food to more than 1.2 million people between June and December 2011. The ICRC said 6 percent of the food provided had deteriorated and was withdrawn, or destroyed by al Shabaab.
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