Nearly 3.4 million people or 17 percent of Somalia’s population are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity. This is according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification system (IPC) used by the United Nations. The group defines famine as an extreme deprivation of food. It says the crisis is driven by floods, conflict, and poor rainfall. Nasir Abdi Arush, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management for the Southwest State of Somalia, tells VOA’s James Butty, that while some of the factors creating food insecurity are beyond the country’s control, the Somali government is trying to create a conducive environment for its people