Five die of hunger in northern Somalia as severe drought hits several regions

At least 5 people have died in Awdal Somalia’s northern region due to hunger as drought severely hits several regions of the country.

Abiib Aw-Ahmed Aweeye, Harrirad district commissioner in Awdal region, said the deaths have been reported in three remote villages in the area.

The dead comprised women and children whose livelihood had been depleted by the severe drought.

Mr. Aweeye said that the famine has affected many nomadic pastoralists who were grazing their animals along the coast.

Mr Aweeye attributed the drought to less-than-average rainfall in the region, adding that it had resulted in the drying up of vegetation and water sources.

“The land has experienced lack of rainfall for long time about five years, resulting in the drought situation,” said DC.

He said his administration and the locals collaborated in trucking water to the worst affected areas.

He said the demand for water in the district was growing daily, with boreholes breaking down due to overuse.

Aweeye has raised the alarm over ravaging drought in the villages under his district.

“The famine had earlier wiped out most of their livestock now we can see it has also cost human lives. I call on Somalis to come to the aid of these people.”  Aweeye pleaded.

The Goobjoog News correspondent, Omar Serbia in Harirad town says he visited a village where hundreds of people – most of them old and weak trek water 50 kilometres away from their village.

Somali government Sunday announced that US 1 million will be released to fight hunger in drought affected region amid deaths have been reported from some regions.

The emergency cash transfers will be hand over Drought Response Committee and it will be used for water trucking and providing relief food.

The vulnerable households of all drought affected regions will benefit from the money, according press statement by ministry for finance.