Special envoy for droughts Abdirahman Abdishakur chairs meeting on drought

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Somali Drought Relief Committee has shared a report on the severe drought with the newly-appointed Special Representative for Humanitarian Affairs and Drought Relief Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame.

A statement issued by the Drought Relief Committee has put the number of districts severely ravaged by the current drought at 66, with the number of people facing water shortages and food insecurity estimated at 6.9 million.

The Committee has also expressed fears that if nothing is done in the coming months, the number of people who could be staring at food and water shortages could shoot to 8 million, which is an equivalent to 50% of the country’s population.

The commission also noted that the UN and other aid agencies had identified 7.7 million people this year in need of humanitarian assistance, but so far 5.5 million vulnerable people have been assisted.

Read the statement below.