Cape Town- The Somali government declared a state of emergency after the committee set up to assess the drought situation in the country submitted a report. In a statement, Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Robl called on the people of Somalia, clergy, businesses, and the international community to provide assistance to those affected.
The United Nations warned in a joint statement earlier Friday that approximately 2.3 million people in Somalia have suffered severe water, food, and pasture shortages, and that by April 2022, a rapidly deteriorating drought could lead to “extreme conditions.”
It is estimated that by 2022, the number of people in need of assistance and protection across the country will increase by 30%, from 5.9 million to approximately 7.7 million. According to the United Nations, more than 70% of Somalis live below the poverty line.
Adam Abdul Mulla, Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the country, said: “The affected people have experienced decades of conflict, climate shocks and disease outbreaks.”
According to the United Nations, Somalia is at the forefront of climate change, having experienced more than 30 climate-related disasters since 1990, including 12 droughts and 19 floods.
Federal Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management Khadija Diriye said that families are losing their main source of livelihood livestock and may starve to death in the coming months.
So far, nearly 100,000 people, especially in the central and southern regions, have abandoned their homes in search of food, water and pasture for livestock. Lack of safe water and sanitation facilities also increases the risk of water-borne diseases.
With information from: https://allafrica.com/stories/202111240468.html
