Somalia receives food aid as ‘catastrophic’ drought worsens
The Somali government received 40 containers
of food aid from the United Arab Emirates Saturday, amid concern over famine in
the Horn of African country. The drought has displaced a million people so far.
In a handover ceremony that took place in
Mogadishu’s seaport Saturday, Somalia received much-needed humanitarian
assistance from the United Arab Emirates in the presence of senior Somali
government officials.
UAE Ambassador to Somalia Mohamed al-Othmani,
who spoke at the handover said the food supplies include more than 1,000 metric
tons sent by the UAE Red Crescent, meant to help Somalia fight the drought that
has devastated the country.
The drought has already displaced a million
Somalis who joined nearly 2 million internally displaced people who fled from
Somalia’s previous drought.
"I want to thank the minister and the
office of the prime minister for attending the handover of humanitarian
assistance sent by the government of the United Arab Emirates. We are handing
over a thousand tons of aid to the Somali government. You know that earlier
this year the UAE donated 35 million Dirham, $9.5 million, to the Somali
government," said al-Othmani.
Hirsi Jama Gani, Somalia’s state minister for
the office of the prime minister, welcomed the assistance and thanked UAE for
helping Somalia’s drought relief efforts.
He said the country is witnessing a huge
drought and called on Somalis and other international parties to join the
humanitarian efforts in Somalia.
"We are here today to receive the
humanitarian assistance from the United Arab Emirates represented by the
ambassador sent to help our people, who are facing drought," he said.
"We thank UAE for this and previous assistance meant to help
drought-affected people. We know the situation that our people are in who are
in a middle of drought and calling other parties and Somalis to join the efforts
to reach people in need."
Abdullahi Ahmed Jama Ilkajir, Somalia's Ports
and Marine minister, said the food assistance will be delivered and distributed
to all drought-hit areas in the country.
He said the aid will be uploaded unloaded in
all parts of the country, including in Bosaso, Berbera and Kismayo, which host
the biggest seaports in the country.
Somalia is witnessing its worst drought in
more than 40 years, which has devastated 90% of the country.
The drought has affected more than 7 million
people, and widespread malnutrition and drought-related illnesses have killed
more than 500 children.
In the Gedo region, bordering Kenya and
Ethiopia, authorities earlier told VOA by phone that more than 50 people,
mainly children and elderly, have died due to the drought, which has caused a
huge increase of displacement.
Authorities told VOA that more than 50,000
people displaced by the drought have fled to camps in the town of Dolow in the
Gedo region in search of food, water, shelter and assistance.
Somalia last year declared the three-year
drought a national emergency.
According to the prime minister's office, the
drought has also killed more than 2 million livestock and affected 28% of the
country’s total livestock population.
Want to send us a story? SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp 0743570000 or Submit on Citizen Digital or email wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a Comment