The urgent request for Somalia comes amidst warnings donor countries are failing to meet appeals for crises affecting a number of African countries. United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos said less than half of the aid sought for Africa has been delivered.

Valerie Amos: “To date, we have received $3.6 billion, covering 45 percent of requirements, with $4.3 billion still needed. Our key concern is that there are persistent imbalances in funding among crises. The funding percentages of different appeals range from 29 percent to 60 percent. The least-funded appeals are the regional appeal for West Africa and the appeals for Zimbabwe, Djibouti and Niger.”

The aid group Oxfam International says the world’s richest nations have practiced “willful neglect” in under-funding aid appeals for Africa and ignoring warnings of impending food shortages going back to January.