STORY:

CRITICAL FOOD AND NUTRITION SITUATION

PERSISTS IN SOMALIA-UN
DURATION: 02:37
SOURCE: UNSOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
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LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 31/8/2015, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA


SHOT LIST
1. Wide shot, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for
Somalia (DSRSG), Resident Humanitarian Coordinator Peter de Clercq and the
representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Somalia
Richard Trenchard arrive for the press briefing
2. Med shot, DSRSG and Resident Humanitarian Coordinator Peter de Clercq
and the representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization in Somalia
Richard Trenchard
3. Wide shot, journalist in attendance
4. Close up, camera LCD display
5. SOUNDBITE (English) DSRSG, Humanitarian Coordinator Peter de Clercq:
The outlook is also not giving us cause for optimism. Malnutrition continues
to be pervasive and the situation is currently getting worse. Malnutrition
rates in fact are going to increase before the end of the year due to below
average cereal production and poor rainfall in sub-pastoral and agro-pastoral
areas; (and) trade disruption of course in most conflict-affected areas and
continued displacement as I already referred to.
6. Close up, the representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization in
Somalia Richard Trenchard
7. SOUNDBITE (English) DSRSG, Humanitarian Coordinator Peter de Clercq:
My most important message today will be that while saving lives and
livelihoods continues to be very important, we must simultaneously also
address underlying causes. Most of the underlying causes of Somalias
protracted crisis remain unresolved. The sobering reality is that any shock
could plunge Somalia into another devastating emergency. We therefore
need to ensure that the critical vulnerability levels are brought down and that
we reduce risk of having far too many people slide back into crisis.
8. Wide shot/Pan left to right, Nairobi humanitarian briefing via video call
9. Med shot, OCHA Somalia PIO Maurizio Giuliano listening to the Nairobi
briefing
10. Wide shot, Nairobi office video call
11. Close up, Nairobi office video call
12. Med shot, Nairobi office video call

13. SOUNDBITE (English) the representative of the Food and Agriculture

Organization in Somalia Richard Trenchard:
There is a lot of work starting now in terms of preparedness. And let me
focus particularly on preparedness that has been done to support farmers
and livestock owners. There are two major things we can do; one is to
minimize the extent of flooding. There is a lot of work going on now
particularly in the Shabelle area along the Shabelle River to reinforce river
banks, et cetera, to put sandbags along the river. That will just reduce the
amount of flooding that takes place. Similarly providing farmers with very
simple kits will allow them to build platforms to protect their seed and grain
above the flood waters.
14. Med shot, Senior UN officials in attendance
15. Close up, DSRSG, Humanitarian Coordinator Peter de Clercq
16. Wide shot, OCHA Somalia PIO Maurizio Giuliano closing the press briefing

STORY

Mogadishu, 31 August 2015: The United Nations today released results of the latest
Food Security and Nutrition Assessment for Somalia, indicating that the countrys

humanitarian situation remains highly alarming. Results of the report indicate that a
total of 855,000 people in Somalia today face food crisis or emergency, and are
critically in need of food and nutrition assistance having increased from 731,000 six
months ago, and reflecting a 17 percent increase.

The report also shows that 2.3 million people are food-stressed. The deterioration is
due in part to the early end of the rainy season that led to below-average cereal
production, as well as continuing insecurity in many areas. A total of 3.1 million
people now require humanitarian assistance. Among those facing food crisis or
emergency, the majority are internally displaced persons (IDPs). The findings further
indicate that nearly 215,000 children aged under five are acutely malnourished, of
whom almost 40,000 are severely malnourished and face a high risk of disease and
death.

Peter de Clercq, the Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-
General for Somalia (DSRSG), who is also the United Nations Resident and
Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, described the humanitarian situation in the

country as very fragile. While addressing journalists at the United Nations offices in
Mogadishu, he said, The outlook is also not giving us cause for
optimism. Malnutrition continues to be pervasive and the situation is currently
getting worse. Malnutrition rates in fact are going to increase before the end of the
year due to below-average cereal production and poor rainfall in sub-pastoral and
agro-pastoral areas.

Mr. de Clercq added that despite the challenges, sustained humanitarian action has
had a positive impact on the lives of millions of Somalis by improving their
livelihoods, provision of food assistance, treating acute malnutrition in children
below five years of age, extending basic health services, provision of safe drinking
water, as well as hygiene promotion.

My most important message today will be that while saving lives and livelihoods
continues to be very important, we must simultaneously also address underlying
causes. Most of the underlying causes of Somalias protracted crisis remain
unresolved. The sobering reality is that any shock could plunge Somalia into another
devastating emergency. We therefore need to ensure that the critical vulnerability
levels are brought down and that we reduce the risk of having far too many people
slide back into crisis, the DRSG said.

Richard Trenchard, the Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization

(FAO) in Somalia warned of flooding in the coming months due to the El Nio
phenomenon likely to severely affect Somalia in the coming months. Mr. Trenchard
however added that measures are underway to mitigate the risk of food insecurity
and famine caused by loss of livestock and crops for farmers.

There is a lot of work starting now in terms of preparedness. And let me focus
particularly on preparedness that has been done to support farmers and livestock
owners. There are two major things we can do. One is to minimize the extent of
flooding; there is a lot of work going on now particularly in the Shabelle area along
the Shabelle River to reinforce river banks, et cetera, to put sandbags along the

river. That will just reduce the amount of flooding that takes place. Similarly,
providing farmers with very simple kits will allow them to build platforms to protect
their seed and grain above the flood waters, Mr. Trenchard said.

The periodic assessment is conducted twice a year by the Food Security and
Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) and the Famine Early Warning Systems Network
(FEWSNET) for Somalia, managed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in
collaboration with various technical partners and governments.
ENDS.