UN says drought affects 4.6 mln people in Somalia

The drought emergency in Somalia has significantly deepened, with authorities estimating that 4.61 million people have been affected by prolonged dry conditions across the country, the United Nations (UN) relief agency said Monday.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the drought emergency follows the poor performance of the two main rainy seasons and is compounded by funding shortfalls for assistance, further worsening Somalia's already dire humanitarian situation.