Thousands of animals are dying of starvation in south and central Somalia while many people are suffering from shortages of water and food after annual rains failed.

By Abdurrahman Warsameh, Mogadishu

Elders from the region say that hundreds of thousands lack adequate food and water. "Families have been struggling. Their children and livestock are dying of starvation," says Iman Muse Mohamoud, a resident of the village Abudwaq in central Somalia. The current drought spell is the worst the local elders say they have seen in years.

Food and water prices have risen dramatically. People have to pay almost 100,000 Somali shilling (equivalent to 2 euros) for a 200-littre barrel of water – a price out of the reach of most people. Food prices in the drought-hit areas have gone up four hundrend per cent.

"Some of the families, including mine, have to go for one meal a day to survive. Most of the people here are unable to buy enough food and water for themselves. They have also lost their livestock," Maryan, a mother of seven, tells RNW.

Women, children and the elder are hard hit by the shortages in the war torn east African country. Some families from villages have begun to move to the towns.

The Somali government has announced to set up a national commission to deal with the crisis in central Somalia and parts of the south. Officials have called upon the international community for assistance and the return of aid agencies who have withdrawn from Somalia since 2007 because of general insecurity and the banning order of Islamist rebels.

The east African nation has been through almost two decades of civil conflict while chronic drought and subsequent famines coupled with widespread diseases have remained part and parcel of everyday life for the ordinary p

eople of Somalia.

Source: Radio Netherlands Worlwide- Africa desk