Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters at the daily press briefing that “The federal government and the humanitarian community on Friday jointly said that they are alarmed at the rapidly worsening drought in Somalia.”
A UN spokesperson has warned, around 2.3 million people in Somalia. i.e., 18% of the population, were severely affected by serious water, food, and pasture shortages.
Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters at the daily press briefing that “The federal government and the humanitarian community on Friday jointly said that they are alarmed at the rapidly worsening drought in Somalia.” The risk of waterborne disease is on the rise due to the lack of access to safe and potable water,” he added.
“Somalia is on the frontline of climate change and has experienced more than 30 climate-related hazards since 1990, including 12 droughts and 19 floods,” said the spokesperson.
Xinhua news agency reported that almost 1,00,000 people have abandoned their homes, especially in central and southern areas, in search of food, water, and pasture for their livestock. Around 70 percent of all Somalis sustain a livelihood below the poverty line.
UN Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the country, Adam Abdelmoula, stated: “a severe storm is brewing in Somalia.” Those affected have already endured decades of conflict, climatic shocks, and disease outbreaks, Abdelmoula added, who also acts as a resident and a humanitarian coordinator.
The number of people who need assistance and protection rose by 30 percent, from 5.9 million to about 7.7 million in 2022 across the country.
Local communities, the authorities, and the United Nations are ramping up responses to address these critical situations. But concerning response sectors like water, sanitation and hygiene are only 20 percent funded. The 2021 Somalia Humanitarian Response Plan is only 66 percent funded. The UN Central Emergency Response Fund is allocating $8 million and the Somalia Humanitarian Fund is making a reserve allocation of $6 million in response to the situation.
Source: Business Standard, Aljazeera
