United Nations officials say the food crisis in Somalia has worsened with 6.7 million people now in desperate need of assistance.
That’s an additional half a million from figures released a month ago.
CGTN’s Abdulaziz Billow is in Baidoa, a town in one of the worst-hit regions.
UN’s humanitarian agency OCHA said the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate despite the rains, which are below average in all areas.
In its latest report on drought situation in Somalia OCHA said that the ongoing drought also increases risk of famine-induced displacement in the region.
Since November 2016, more than 683,000 people in Somalia have been internally displaced by drought, including more than 377,000 displaced during the first quarter of 2017.
“The humanitarian situation in Somalia has deteriorated further and an elevated risk of famine in 2017 persists in some parts. The number of people in need of humanitarian assistance has increased to 6.7 million people, up from 6.2 million,” said the UN agency.
According to the OCHA, a total of 3.2 million people are expected to face “crisis and emergency levels” of food insecurity through June.
