Rapidly increasing food prices and a delayed and poor start of seasonal gu
rains (mid‐April to June) that is resulting in a deepening drought have
increased the estimated number of people in need of humanitarian
assistance in Somalia by June 2008 to over 2.6 million. This figure could rise
to as high as 3.5 million by late 2008 if high inflation, drought, and civil
insecurity continue. The increased number of people in need of assistance
includes an additional 600,000 urban poor who now face an Acute Food and Livelihood Crisis, as well as pastoralists and internally displaced people from Mogadishu. Continued humanitarian interventions targeting these populations are necessary, as is contingency planning for potential further increases in needs.
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Eric Clamor (L) and Sergeant James McCarty, both assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, fill boxes with 5-gallon bags of drinking water while en route ...
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