1992 famine in Somalia

1992 Somalia Famine
January 1993
Location	Southern Somalia
Period	1991–1992
Total deaths	Approx. 200,000 - 300,000
Causes	War and drought
Consequences	Creation of UNOSOM I
Preceded by	Somali Civil War

The 1992 famine in Somalia resulted from a severe drought and devastation caused by warring factions in southern Somalia, primarily the Somali National Front, in the fertile inter-riverine breadbasket between the Jubba and Shebelle rivers. The resulting famine primarily affected residents living in the riverine area, predominantly in Bay Region, and those internally displaced by the civil war.

During the second half of 1992, the famine began to recede,^[1] partly due to the lull in fighting, which allowed the first crop harvest in the Lower Shebelle region, and also due to large-scale international food deliveries. The continuing crisis led to the creation of UNOSOM I in April 1992. The International Committee of the Red Cross took lead of the response, spending more than half of its 1992 budget on the crisis and distributing 75% of all relief in Somalia.^[2] From August to December 1992, the United States operated an aid airlift to the Red Cross that saved approximately 40,000 lives.^[3]

In December 1992, UNITAF was established to succeed UNOSOM I, deploying over 30,000 US-led troops to Somalia with the initial objective of providing security for relief groups. During early 1993, the famine largely subsided, and in March of that year, UNITAF transitioned to UNOSOM II. Of the approximately 100,000 lives saved as a result of international assistance,^[4] 10,000–25,000 were during the UNITAF and UNOSOM II operations.^[4][3]

The crisis resulted in an estimated 200,000–300,000 deaths.