Saudi Arabia First to Answer Somalia’s Appeal for Drought Aid

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Saudi Arabia has become the first country to formally respond to Somalia’s urgent call for humanitarian assistance as severe drought continues to threaten vulnerable communities across the country.

Director of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre’s Africa office, Yaziid Abdalla Xamuud, held talks Sunday with the national humanitarian agency where  they discussed the deteriorating situation and plans for rapid relief delivery.

The agency said Saudi Arabia had approved immediate assistance targeting nearly 100,000 people among the hardest hit by the drought becoming the first country to respond to the appeal.

Yaziid reaffirmed the Kingdom’s longstanding support for Somalia, saying Riyadh remains committed to sustaining its humanitarian partnership with the country.

On 10 November, the Federal Government of Somalia formally declared a drought emergency and appealed for urgent international assistance as conditions continued to deteriorate across northern, central and southern regions.