(Image source: Al Jazeera)

BY: ALEJANDRA QUINTELA

ANCHOR ALLIE SPILLYARDS

You're watching multisource world video news analysis from Newsy. 

The United Nations has officially declared famine in parts of southern Somalia.
The UN describes the situation as starvation on a massive scale.


Humanitarian co-ordinator for Somalia Mark Bowden explains the severity of the crisis.


“The rest of southern Somalia is close to famine conditions and it is likely the conditions will deteriorate further in the next month. Currently in southern Bakool and Lower Shabelle  acute malnutrition exists 30 % with undefined death rates exceeding 6 per 10,000 per day in some areas. These are truly shocking figures.” (The Guardian)

Typically, governments declare their own famines -- but reports say since Somalia lacks a central government, the UN stepped in. The BBC explains why the declaration of quote- “the f word” is such a big deal.


"Famine is an emotive word, and while in the strict sense it means people are starving on a massive scale, aid organisations do not use it lightly to describe a humanitarian crisis. "

The strongest drought in 50 years, plus Al-Shabab, an anti-government movement that controls much of the country-- have made the situation worse.

Some Somalis have fled the country to refugee camps in Kenya -- but they tell CNN, it’s not much better.


"’We're refugees, but we are dying because we don't get enough help... Our children are dying because of hunger. We need water, we need a hospital, they mustn't forget us.’"

Kenya’s Capital FM reports --  the UNICEF Somalia representative wants to get more aid on the ground in Somalia, before people make the treacherous trek to Kenya.

“‘We are trying to help Somali people where they are, people moving from places affected by hunger and conflict have died along the way...helping them before they cross the border is key...’”

And Al Jazeera reports -- right now, aid groups need money to help alleviate the widespread hunger.


“US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the US will give another $28m in aid, adding to the $431m...it has given...this year.......Britain has pledged $145m in the past two weeks...and the European Union pledged around $8m...Spain has promised nearly $10m and Germany around $8.5m.”



According to The Daily Mail, the UN says $300 million in aid is needed to get Somalia through the next two months.
 

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Transcript by Newsy.