Hit by floods and drought, quarter of Somali people at risk of 'crisis-level' hunger, WFP says

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Click here to see the summaryGENEVA, Nov 14 (Reuters) - A quarter of Somalia’s population is forecast to face “crisis-level hunger or worse” this year due to drought and floods caused by climate change, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday. Floods that have uprooted hundreds of thousands of people in Somalia and neighbouring countries in East Africa following a historic drought earlier this year have been described by the United Nations as a once-in-a-century event. “Livelihoods and lives are at risk, 4.3 million people – a quarter of the population – are forecast to face crisis-level hunger or worse by the end of this year,” said Petroc Wilton, WFP spokesperson for Somalia. The floods, which followed heavy rains that started in early October, have already killed at least 32 people and forced more than 456,800 from their homes in Somalia, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Speaking to Reuters in Luuq town, where the Jubba River burst its banks, aid group World Vision said it had managed to rescue some villagers trapped due to flooding. “We have so far rescued over 400 people from the locations that are completely submerged by the water as a result of the heavy rains that were witnessed over the last week,” Muhidin Abdullahi, its operations manager in Somalia said. — Saved 46% of original text.