Somalia seeks to reduce impacts of dry spells

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Thursday September 12, 2024

Interagency Mission In Dhobley for the Drought situation. Women are carry water in the desert. © UNHCR/Joel Gallardo

MOGADISHU (Xinhua) -- Food security experts from Somalia, the United Nations (UN), and other international agencies on Wednesday resolved to take proactive steps to mitigate the impacts of prolonged dry spells on the East African country.

The delegations who attended a forum convened by the National Climate Co-Production, Application, and Action Planning in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, also agreed to address the challenges faced by vulnerable communities, particularly those in drought-prone areas.

The forum brought together climate scientists, decision-makers, and representatives from key sectors, including agriculture, water resources, disaster risk management, and humanitarian organizations, to assess the implications of climate projections and plan anticipatory actions to mitigate the forecasted conditions.

"The forum deliberated on the critical climate forecast of below-normal rainfall, a delayed onset of rains, and the impacts of higher-than-normal temperatures in Somalia," the Somali government said in a joint statement issued in Mogadishu.

The October-November-December forecast indicates a high likelihood (over 50 percent probability) of below-normal rainfall, driven by La Nina conditions, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Additionally, there is over 60 percent probability of a delayed onset of rains in the southern and central parts of the country, according to the FAO.

During the forum, the participants reaffirmed their commitment to working together to ensure timely, evidence-based anticipatory actions are taken.

They said the forecasted above-normal temperatures combined with below-normal rains, are expected to lead to severe loss of soil moisture through increased evapotranspiration. This will have serious implications for crop and fodder production, particularly in regions reliant on rain-fed agriculture and pastoralist activities, the experts said.

The participants from the UN, the Somali government, the World Meteorological Organization, and the Climate Prediction and Applications Center of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development resolved to enhance drought forecasting capabilities, employ tools with longer lead times, and improve the dissemination of climate information to support decision-making across multiple sectors.

"Plans for anticipatory actions are in place, focusing on providing early warnings, strengthening drought-resistant agricultural practices, and ensuring the timely delivery of relief aid to those most affected," the government said.

By co-developing tailored sectoral advisories and action plans, Somalia aims to mitigate the risks posed by these climatic conditions and protect the lives, livelihoods, and assets of its most vulnerable populations. ■

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