Somalia, 19 July 2012: One year after Somalia's famine, a story
of recovery One year ago, on 20 July 2011, the United Nations
declared famine in two regions of southern Somalia, the
flashpoint in a humanitarian crisis gripping the Horn of Africa.
After an outpouring of international support, the famine ended
in February 2012, and countless lives across the region were
saved. But 8 million people in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya
remain in need of humanitarian assistance, and UNICEF’s relief
efforts must continue. By Athanas Makundi MOGADISHU, Somalia, 19
July 2012 – Amina walked briskly with her 4-year-old son, Ismail
Mohamed, to fetch water at the edge of the camp where they live
in Mogadishu. As the sun rose, they could hear the sound of
babies crying and distant gunfire. “We have to wake up early to
fetch water because it is so scarce,” Amina said. “If you don’t,
then you find a long queue at the pump, and sometimes the water
runs out altogether.” Once she had filled her yellow plastic
containers, she hurried