Aid agencies, led by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), travelled to Maaxas in Hiraan Region on 28 May to assess the humanitarian situation on the ground. Maaxas is the fifth of ten newly accessible areas recovered from Al Shabaab control by the Somalia National Armed Forces and AMISOM two months ago to be assessed to determine urgent humanitarian needs and plan a response.

“Somalia is at risk of sliding back into an emergency,” said Ms. Edem Wosornu, OCHA Somalia’s acting Head of Office who led the mission to Maaxas. “Early warnings tell us that the country’s fragile food security situation is set to deteriorate in the coming months due to a combination of delayed rains, rising food prices and persistent conflict.”