MOGADISHU, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The escalating drought crisis in Somalia that has affected half of the country's population could worsen conflicts, displacement of populations and terrorism, a UN official said.
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Chief of Field Office in Central South Somalia Eltayeb Adam told Xinhua in a recent interview that the current drought cycle in Somalia has displaced rural communities that are flocking to towns in search of basic necessities like food and water.
"We are expecting the number of displaced people in Somalia to increase as the drought intensifies in many parts of the country. Children will drop out of school and could be recruited by armed groups," said Adam.
The Horn of Africa nation is grappling with a biting drought that could develop into a catastrophe unless the international community hastens provision of life saving interventions like food aid, clean water and medicine to avert deaths.
Adam noted that massive crop failure and drying of water points have aggravated hunger, malnutrition and spread of diarrhea diseases.
The UNICEF official warned that a combination of hunger, malnutrition and disease outbreaks will undermine the resilience of Somalia's political, social and economic structures.
He singled out child labor and gender based violence among social ills that will worsen in the current drought cycle.
"Some parents are asking children to come out of school and engage in economic activities. So we expect increase in child labor," said Adam.
He revealed that the Baidoa region alone is hosting 60,000 displaced persons as drought escalates.
UNICEF has rallied the international community to increase support for life saving interventions in Somalia and avert a looming humanitarian crisis.
Adam said that food aid, supply of clean drinking water and medicine are urgently required to prevent deaths.
He disclosed that UNICEF and partners have prioritized investments in strategic areas like vocational training for children affected by drought to rescue them from the snare of radicalization.
"We are doing a lot of work in terms of awareness raising with different stakeholders to stop recruitment of children by armed groups," said Adam.
"We provide psychosocial support, vocational skills like masonry, carpentry to children rescued from armed groups and re-integrate them in the society," he added.
He emphasized that Somalia and bilateral partners must invest in long-term drought resilience interventions in order to sustain political stability, economic growth and social cohesion in the Horn of African state.
