Shortage of water hits some parts of Somalia

Shortage of water has hit some part of the country as the federal government of Somalia and aid agencies operating in the country have today launched the 2019 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and called on donors to provide sufficient and early funding to sustain aid operations in Somalia in 2019.

River Shabelle has dried up this year after the expected autumn rain did not occur which has caused severe lack of waters in many areas under middle Shabelle and Hiran regions.

Residents by the river are also facing water supply shortage after the river runs dry and their water reserves are also shortage and they did not have wells in the area near the river which they will sustain to their farms.

The director of the state ministry of water and energy of Hirshabelle state, Abdiwali Mohamed Jabir told Goobjoog News that the only source of water for people in Balaweine and Jowhar is the Shabelle River which is now running to become dry.

“People use for drink water in the river which is mixed with chlorine and the whole city of Beledweine people are dependent of the river water, but there some factories that filter the water in the river and then resell people and most people cannot afford to buy the filtered water of the factories,.” said Abdweli

Areas of Hirshabell state usually face a shortage of water after the river dried and people in the regions of Middle Shabelle and Hiran do not have a rig well that functions in their areas except for Jowhar, the city of Hirshabell State.

On the other hand, severe lack of water exists in the area of Garilley under Gedo region which lays the border between Somalia and Kenya.

The price of one barrel of water in Garilley costs USD 10 dollar which is the highest price recently.

Aar Mohamud Mohamed, the governor of Garilley area told Goobjoog News that there is a severe lack of water in the area and people in the village buy water from water tanks that transported the water from Wajir district in Northeast region of Kenya.

The governor also asked the international agencies and other Somali people for immediate help to people in Garilley area.

Goobjoog News