Somali MPs raises alarm over drought in Nothern part

MPs from Northern part of Somalia have raised an alarm that million people may require urgent food aid.

They said that thousands of people have been displaced and over 500 children already admitted to the health facility, mostly suffering from hunger brought about by a scorching drought that has ravaged most of northern.

Five Somali parliamentarians have set off to visit Sool, Sanaag and Toghdher region which are administrated by rival regional administrations including Puntland, Khatumo and the breakaway Somaliland region.

They called on Somali government to interfere situation and declare the drought ravaging some parts of the country a national disaster.

“Responding to drought has largely remained a reactive mechanism over the years,” MP Abdirashid Abdullahi Mohamed, told Goobjoog News. “There is also a lack of a coordinated approach by CSOs [civil society organizations] and government in addressing drought-related issues at all levels.”

According to Mohamed, drought mitigation should focus on addressing vulnerability factors through activities such as dam construction and investments in irrigated farming in marginal areas.

Mohamed said the biggest problem in drought affected regions is the supply of water, without which “people will soon be dying of thirst”.

“It is very unfortunate that NGOs have visited the areas, promised the people that something would be done for them but nothing has happened yet,” said Mohamed.