UNICEF warns of triple threat of floods, locusts and COVID-19 in Somalia

23 July 2020 – An estimated 5.2 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, including over 3 million children, due to the combined devastating impact of floods, the locust invasion and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“Somalia is one of the most fragile nations in the world, a country that has experienced decades of conflict, cyclical drought and floods,” said Jesper Moller, Deputy Representative of UNICEF Somalia. “Now, to compound the situation, the impact of the locust invasion and the COVID-19 pandemic means the international community has to act fast to help save the lives of millions of Somali families, especially the most vulnerable – the children.”

Children are often the hidden victims of any emergency and are more susceptible to waterborne diseases as a result of the flooding and severe malnutrition due to food shortages.

“In the recent month, there has been an upsurge in cases of Acute Watery Diarrhoea/Cholera,” said Moller. “To further exacerbate the situation, while the immediate impact of the locust invasion is on crop production, which is projected to be 10 to 15 per cent lower than the long-term average, the secondary impact will be on children with an anticipated increase of children being severely malnourished due to food shortages.”

In response to this triple threat, UNICEF, in close coordination with the Government and local partners, are working tirelessly to not only prevent and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, but to continue to provide life-saving assistance to those desperately in need.

As part of ongoing efforts, nearly 1 million vulnerable people have received critical hygiene items including access to safe water and over 500,000 women and children have been provided with basic health and nutritional services in flood-impacted communities and camps for the internally displaced. In addition, more than 500,000 households have been visited by social mobilizers to raise awareness on COVID-19 prevention measures.

UNICEF’s overall humanitarian appeal for Somalia is for $129 million with an additional $35 million for the COVID-19 response. To date, over 60% of the COVID-19 appeal has been funded but for the overall emergency response, only $30 million has been received.

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Notes for editors: 

• Unicef UK warns that the coronavirus pandemic could undo a decade of progress on ending preventable child deaths.
• As well as the immediate response to support children, investment is urgently needed in partnership with the UK and global governments and donors to build sustainable and strong health systems now to ensure the world’s poorest countries can fight the pandemic while protecting the delivery of essential health services.
• UNICEF is appealing for $1.94 billion to support its response to the global Coronavirus emergency.

For more information, please contact:

Alexandra Murdoch, 0207 375 6179, [email protected]

Unicef UK Media Team, 0207 375 6030, [email protected] 

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