Acute malnutrition remains high in some parts of Somalia. According to the FSNAU, there has been deterioration in the nutrition situation over the past six months.
According to United Nations data, an estimated 300,000 children under age 5 are acutely malnourished, including more than 50,000 who are severely malnourished and vulnerable countrywide.
Results from 28 separate nutrition surveys conducted between June and July 2016 among rural and internally displaced populations across the country indicate that Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) and Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) prevalence is above the Critical threshold of 15 per cent in half of the 28 rural and displaced population groups surveyed.
The surveys indicate that the overall number of acutely malnourished people is likely to remain substantially high. Assessments also show high levels of malnutrition among women of child bearing age (15-49 years old).
The nutrition situation among internally displaced persons is particularly worrying. The internally displaced in Bossaso, Doloow, Garowe and Gaalkacyo have critical rates of acute malnutrition and have remained so over the past eight seasonal assessments, according to FSNAU.
The UN’s Office for Humanitarian Coordination known as OCHA, the humanitarian partners have been responding to cases of malnutrition in the most affected areas.
From January to June 2016, partners supported the treatment of some 43,000 severely malnourished children under age 5 across Somalia with a reported recovery rate of 92 per cent.
The response was vital in drought-affected areas of Puntland and Somaliland. Partners also strengthened preparedness plans and set up additional outpatient therapeutic programmes, including mobile teams in the most affected regions of Awdal, Bari, Nugaal, Sanag, Sool, Togdheer and Waqooyi Galbeed.
In southern and central Somalia, integrated management of acute malnutrition services is now available in 47 out of 58 districts.