How to Free Children Like Samira from Somalia’s Cycle of Drought, Conflict & Hunger
Sep 7, 2017
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Kevin Watkins
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Humanitarian action in Somalia has saved lives. Six months ago, a full-blown famine was in prospect as the worst drought in living memory tightened its grip. That famine didn’t happen. Instead of repeating the mistakes of the 2011 drought, when people were dying before the aid flowed, major donors acted early and at scale. So far, $667m has been delivered in 2017.
Even so, the number of acutely malnourished children has risen by 50% since the start of the year, to 1.4 million. Many face a real and immediate risk of starvation. Those who reach help in time can be saved with intravenous drips and fortified milk substitutes. But what are the prospects for such children of a future free from hunger?