Somalia’s Farmaajo declares drought a national disaster

The president of Somalia Mohamed Abdulahi Farmajo (Courtesy)

MOGADISHU—Somalia’s Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has declared the drought in the country a national disaster that threatens millions of people and is creating fears of a full-blown famine, the AP reports.

Tuesday’s statement from the office of President says he has appealed for help from the international community and to Somalia’s diaspora of 2 million.

Combating the drought is a priority for Mohamed, who was elected this month at a time when the country is faced by a number of challenges  to which outbreak of famine is the most threatening.

The announcement comes three weeks after Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta made acsimikar declaration early this month. The drought is affecting 23 Arid and Semi-Arid counties, mostly along the Somali border.

The president invited the international community in mitigating the drought impact, saying the only government won’t be able to address it.

“Support from our partners would complement government efforts in mitigating the effects of drought,” Uhuru said.

The United Nations humanitarian office estimates that 5 million people in Somalia, or nearly half the country’s population, need aid.

About 363,000 acutely malnourished children “need urgent treatment and nutrition support, including 71,000 who are severely malnourished,” says the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Famine Early Warning Systems Network.