RESOURCES

This study was commissioned by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET).

The report concludes that a very large number of people (very probably between 143,000 and 273,000, and more likely to be closest to our best estimate of 258,000) died in southern and central Somalia as a result of the food insecurity emergency of 2010-2012. An obvious rational use of these estimates would be to ensure that in Somalia and food security-related emergencies elsewhere, future early warning and surveillance alerts do translate into tangible, immediate relief interventions to support livelihoods, health and nutrition in the affected communities.

While this analysis attempts to circumscribe its estimate of excess mortality to that attributable to (severe) food insecurity, according to the authors findings should be viewed within a broader framework in which armed conflict and insecurity probably hold the greatest share of ultimate attribution. The return of peace and stable government to all parts of Somalia is likely to be the most effective and durable solution to reduce future threats to the livelihood and well-being of Somalis everywhere. This study offers a compelling case for all parties to the armed conflict to pursue its resolution as a matter of the greatest urgency.