People displaced due to drought in Somalia doubles in January: UN

The number of people displaced by the current drought in Somalia doubled in January from 245,000

 to 554,500, the UN indicated on Friday.

Most of the displaced people have fled from the Galgadud, Mudug, and Bay regions, according to an infographic by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

According to an accompanying statement, 4.3 million people have been affected by the drought, demanding sustained urgent humanitarian assistance.

"Drought has deepened in Somalia with more than 4.3 million people affected, up from 3.2 million in December 2021," said the statement.

Severe water shortages have been reported in 66 out of 74 districts in the Horn of Africa country, leading to increased water prices and a heightened risk of diseases, according to the UN.

"Crop failure has been reported in the central regions, with below-season production in the south and northwestern regions, resulting in the third lowest deyr harvest (between October and December) since 1995 in southern Somalia," the statement added.