Wednesday October 13, 2021
Kismayo (HOL) - Jubbaland State President Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe) said on Wednesday that drought in his state has been threatening the livelihoods of pastoralists and farmers.
Madobe said that the Jubbaland Ministry of Relief and Disaster Management has assessed that it needs international assistance to address the crippling drought immediately. The meeting came after an emergency session of Jubbaland's cabinet.
President Madobe appealed to international authorities for emergency assistance, saying that now was the best time for aid agencies to relieve the crisis.
Two straight years of below-average rainfall seasons have devastated crop and livestock production in Somalia. Aid agencies say that the problem has been exasperated by protracted civil conflict and displacement.
A weak La Nina forecast means that Somalia may see below-average rainfalls from October to December, further complicating the food security problem.
The Famine Early Warning Systems Network said that pastoral livelihood zones in central and northern Somalia are the most severe concern areas.