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From Our Own Correspondent

Famine looms in Somalia

From Our Own Correspondent

BBC

News, News Commentary

4.41.3K Ratings

🗓️ 8 October 2022

⏱️ 29 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

A fight for survival is underway in Somalia as the country faces its worst drought in 40 years. Andrew Harding travelled to the southwestern city of Baidoa - one of the worst-affected areas in the country, where people are now flooding to in hope of finding humanitarian assistance.

The story of two teenage sisters who were raped and hanged in their village in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has shaken communities there. The case has also been complicated by spurious suggestions by local politicians that there was a religious motivation behind the killings. Geeta Pandy met the family of the victims.

Henry Wilkins is in Burkina Faso, where two coups have now taken place this year. The West African country lacks strong democratic institutions and the military have long been dominant. It’s also found itself increasingly embroiled in a new cold war rivalry between France and Russia.

Set in the hills north of Spoleto in the southern Appenines is the small Italian town of Montefalco. The local grape, the Sagrantino, is known to be one of the tougher varieties to make into wine. Ellie House met one vineyard owner in the region and learnt how the production process is still one based on trial – and a few errors.

Saudi Arabia’s been burnishing its credentials as host for the world’s biggest sporting events this year, with speculation its even lining itself up for an Olympic bid. Steve Bunce considers whether the presence of the world’s best athletes can really distract critical eyes, as the kingdom’s rulers might hope.

Presenter: Kate Adie Producers: Serena Tarling and Ellie House Production coordinator: Iona Hammond Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

BVC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts

0:05.0

Today the double murder of teenage sisters and a mother's grief are used to stir up sectarian

0:11.6

hatred in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

0:15.8

We're in Bukhina Faso, which is seen its second coup this year, but the new administration

0:21.5

is already looking vulnerable.

0:24.2

In Umbria, we meet a wine producer who had to solve a mysterious case of exploding bottles.

0:31.7

And the fighters in a boxing match in Saudi Arabia may pack a punch, but can these grandiose

0:37.8

sporting events really help polish a tarnished reputation?

0:42.8

First we're in Somalia, where a fight for survival is underway as the country grapples

0:48.0

with its worst drought in 40 years.

0:51.1

Bydoa, the administrative capital of Somalia's southwest state, is one of the worst affected

0:56.5

areas in the country.

0:58.7

People who've lost their livelihoods go to the relief camps there in the hope of finding

1:03.6

humanitarian assistance.

1:06.4

Almost two-thirds of young children and pregnant women in newly built camps are reportedly

1:11.6

suffering from acute malnutrition, which, along with a high death rate, could indicate

1:17.4

that an official declaration of famine is already overdue.

1:21.9

Andrew Harding has been to one of the camps.

1:25.0

The city of Bydoa sits on the edge of a vast plateau of harsh, dry, thorny scrubland, all

1:30.9

pale pinks and dusty browns.

1:33.5

To the north lies Ethiopia, to the southeast, downhill, and maybe five hours by car, an

1:39.4

extremely good day, lies Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, and the Indian Ocean.

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