MOGADISHU, July 23 -- The World Food Program (WFP) said on Tuesday that it requires 199.8 million U.S. dollars in net funding to scale up humanitarian operations across Somalia for the next six months.

The WFP said the number of food-insecure people in Somalia has seen a notable decline, which is attributable to improved rainfall and sustained humanitarian assistance.

"However, despite improvements, the lingering effects of the historic drought, conflict, insecurity, macroeconomic challenges, and the devastating El Nino-induced floods continue to take a heavy toll on vulnerable communities in Somalia," the WFP said in its latest report issued in the Somali capital of Mogadishu.

The UN agency said it assisted 3 million people in June, while 12.7 million dollars in assistance were delivered via cash-based transfers in the same month.

It also said some 6.9 million Somalis are estimated to need assistance in 2024, with 3.4 million people projected to face acute food insecurity this month.

The WFP said the recently-ended Gu rainy season (April-June) brought above-average rainfall and localized floods, affecting 268,000 people, displacing 81,000, and damaging livelihood assets.

It said while the cessation of rains has reduced flood risks, dry conditions coupled with high temperatures have impacted the quality of available pasture, rangelands, and water resources in northern and southern regions of Somalia.

Preliminary weather predictions indicate continued dry conditions with possible below-average rainfall in the upcoming rainy season, the WFP said.

  - Xinhua