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MOGADISHU — The Somali President, H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, directed all government agencies to focus their operations on drought relief during a visit to the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), as reported by the Somali National News Agency (SONNA).
The President inspected the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), issuing stern instructions to accelerate the humanitarian response and avert a major catastrophe threatening citizens in the most climate-affected regions.
During the visit, the Somali President received a comprehensive strategic briefing from technical experts, detailing the alarming spread of the drought, affected areas, and rising displacement rates, according to SONNA.
Experts warned that the situation has reached critical thresholds, posing an imminent risk of full-scale famine if immediate intervention is not scaled up and essential supplies provided to local populations.
Responding to the gravity of the situation, the President appealed to the business community, humanitarian organizations, and international partners to form a unified national front to mobilize resources for vulnerable groups.
President Mohamud emphasized that collective action is the only way to mitigate the human cost of climate shocks, reiterating that saving lives remains the administration’s absolute priority, as reported by SONNA.
In a practical step to expedite aid delivery, the President issued an executive order to the Ministry of Finance to immediately waive all taxes and customs duties on goods and equipment destined for drought relief.
This presidential decree aims to remove bureaucratic hurdles and facilitate the seamless flow of humanitarian aid, ensuring that vital supplies reach those in need in remote and affected areas with maximum efficiency.
The President urged SoDMA officials to enhance coordination with field partners to ensure equitable distribution and comprehensive relief coverage for all those affected by the crisis, according to SONNA.
Furthermore, the Somali President called on the international community to play a more active role in supporting Somalia’s climate resilience efforts, noting that recurrent droughts require long-term stability and development strategies.
H.E. the President noted that the federal government would exert every effort to provide the necessary budgets for the Emergency Operations Center to enable its scientific and organized crisis monitoring tasks.
Concluding his visit, the President reaffirmed that solidarity between the government, the people, and partners is the foundation for overcoming this humanitarian trial, expressing confidence in national institutions’ professionalism, according to SONNA.
Somalia faces recurrent drought waves due to climate change in the Horn of Africa, directly impacting food security and water resources. The Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) serves as the primary coordinating body to enhance resilience and provide urgent responses to humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters
