Cabinet to mobilise emergency aid as drought ravages central and northern Somalia

The cabinet has Thursday appointed an ad hoc committee to oversee emergency response to drought situation in central and northern Somalia.

The cabinet noted the committee will mobilise support from business community and international agencies to provide emergency aid in various parts of the country. Lower and Middle Shabelle, Hiiraan, Puntland and Somaliland have been adversely affected with reports of people and livestock starving to death.

The committee will be spearheaded by the ministries of information, interior, health, foreign affairs, planning, livestock, water, public works and environment.

In a similar development, cabinet Thursday approved the appointment of six ambassadors to serve in various diplomatic missions but did not disclose the countries they will be posted to.

The ambassadors are Abdirahman Duhale Bayle, Ali Sharif Ahmed, Abukar Abdi Osman, Abdirahman Sheikh Hise, Fakawudiin Mustafa Mohamed and Mohamed Hassan Abdi.

Meanwhile the council of ministers also today approved the Finance Management Bill and the Government Staff Policy Bill.

The government ordered the deployment of two airplanes to Puntland to reinforce the local administration fight against Al-Shabaab. The ministers also strongly condemned Al-Shabaab activities Puntland.