UK Development Secretary Mitchell says 400,000 children in Somalia could die of starvation

UK Development Secretary Mitchell says 400,000 children in Somalia could die of starvation

2011-08-18 11:24:39 GMT+7 (ICT)

LONDON (BNO NEWS) -- British International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell on Wednesday visited the Somali capital of Mogadishu and pledge aid to the famine-stricken country, where up to 400,000 children are at risk of death through starvation if urgent action is not taken immediately.

It was the first visit by a British minister in nearly two decades, the last one being by then-UK Minister for Overseas Development Lynda Chalker. Mitchell announced during his brief visit that Britain will supply much needed aid, which includes extra food and medical supplies, to more than 800,000 women and children.

During the trip, the cabinet minister visited a refugee camp and feeding center and met with Somali officials including Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, who last week announced that a force of 300 men had been created to protect aid convoys, helped by African peacekeepers providing security in Mogadishu.

Mitchell warned during his visit that the situation in Somalia could become as bad as the famine in 1991-2, which killed more than 200,000 people. "I came to Mogadishu today to see first-hand how Britain can best help people that have been hit by this devastating famine. Evidence of malnutrition is not just in the camps and feeding centers but on every street corner," Mitchell said. "The stark fact is that in southern Somalia the situation is deteriorating by the day. We could face deaths on a similar scale to those seen in 1991-2 if we do not act urgently now. This is a race against time."

The UK Department for International Development (DFID) pledged a £25 million ($41.5 million) aid package, including food and medicine, to the UN organization for children, UNICEF. It adds up to £54 million ($89 million) the UK has granted to Somalia since July.

The British government said the children's package will provide up to 192,000 people with two months of supplementary rations, supplies to vaccinate at least 800,000 children against measles, plus 300,000 with polio vaccines, vitamin A and deworming. It will also support malaria preparedness, including provisions of over 100,000 treated bednets, 50,000 malaria testing kits, and treatment capacity for 4,000 cases of malaria.

"But we must also see better security and more access for humanitarian workers," Mitchell added. "I have discussed these issues with the Prime Minister today. By responding quickly, we can save many more lives and avert a human catastrophe."

Mitchell also called on other countries to maintain and increase their support at this 'crucial stage'. "[if not], we risk seeing a whole generation of people decimated by starvation and disease - and further instability across the region," he warned.

Some 3.7 million people, nearly half the Somali population, are directly at risk of famine and tens of thousands have already perished. An estimated 12.4 million people in the drought-hit Horn of Africa, which includes Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, are facing severe food shortages and are in need of international assistance.

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