UN Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Somalia today, April 11th, in what his office has dubbed a solidarity visit for Ramadan.
He’s to visit an IDP camp and meet government officials and civil society reps.
This year’s Ramadan coincides with the longest drought on record in Somalia.
An estimated 43,000 people died last year, the UN reported on March 20.
It warns at least 18,000 could die in the first six months of this year unless the humanitarian response is significantly increased. Children are the main victims.
At least 8.3 million people – nearly half the population – need immediate aid.
Five rainy seasons have failed and a sixth also looks doubtful.
Rising global food prices linked to the Ukraine conflict have deepened the crisis.
Somalia imports most of its food.
Guterres last visited in March 2017, when he declared ‘Somalia is turning the page’.
Aljazeera.