'Months without rain

Award-winning photographer Fredrik Lernery captures the devastating impact of severe drought on mothers in Somalia

- TARA COBHAM

Mothers with their children have been photographed from the epicentre of the crippling drought in Southern Somalia, with one explaining how her young family has been forced to survive on tea with some sugar in it as their main meal of the day.

The powerful series has been released by The Independent to illustrate the devastating impact of the crisis as World Hunger Day approaches on 28 May and as Oxfam calls on the G7 to take “life-saving action” over famine in east Africa ahead of the summit taking place this week.

The award-winning photographer Fredrik Lerneryd has captured mothers with their children, suffering from extreme hunger and malnutrition-induced sickness, after five consecutive failed rainy seasons have put food out of reach for millions of people.

Sokorey* used to have livestock, which helped to feed her family, but they died due to the drought, so she now makes tea with some sugar in it as their main meal of the day. She says: “We left our home because of hunger. We had nothing to eat. We had cows and goats, which we would milk and sell at the market. They are all dead. They died of hunger.”

Said Mohamud Isse, a Save the Children aid worker in Somalia, says families have frequently told him they will have a cup of tea or plain rice as their only meal of the day. According to the UN in February: “Somalia is in the midst of the longest and most severe drought in its history.” The situation is critical and famine remains a strong possibility through June.

The worsening drought, combined with protracted conflict and high commodity prices due to the war in Ukraine, has resulted in an estimated 8.25 million people – nearly half the population – requiring immediate lifesaving aid and protection.