BOSASO — At least 20 people have been killed in Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland in clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces over several days, according to a doctor at a public hospital. For more than a week police and the military have been battling the protesters in Laascaanood, a …
Read More »Conflicts, coups and drought dominate Africa in 2022
JOHANNESBURG — Conflicts and military coups continued to haunt the African continent in 2022. But there were some accomplishments by several countries aimed at strengthening democracy on the continent. On Jan 24, military leaders in Burkina Faso ousted President Roch Marc Christian Kabore and replaced him with Lieut. Col. Paul-Henri …
Read More »More children suffering from malnutrition in Somalia amid looming famine
BAIDOA — The South West state in Somalia is the most drought-affected region in the country and Baidoa, the state’s administrative capital, has seen an increase in the number of children affected by the prolonged drought that is the worst in a generation. Hospitals and medical facilities in the city are …
Read More »WFP predicts below-average rainfall for first half 2023
MOGADISHU — Ahead of the March-May 2023 rainy season, forecasts indicate below-average rainfall is highly likely in many regions of Somalia. This means the victims of drought ravaging most parts of the country will continue suffering from the same predicaments in the first half of next year. Somalia is in …
Read More »UN Children’s Agency: Over 20 M children face severe drought conditions in HoA
MOGADISHU — The number of children facing dire drought conditions across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia has more than doubled in five months, according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). In a statement issued late Thursday, UNICEF said that around 20.2 million children are now under threat of severe hunger, thirst …
Read More »Strengthening Somalia’s institutions to improve service delivery to citizens
WASHINGTON — The World Bank approved $75 million in financing for the Somalia Enhancing Public Resource Management Project (SERP), which aims to support Somalia as is builds state legitimacy, reduces institutional fragmentation, and strengthens institutions for improved service delivery. The SERP is co-financed by both an International Development Assistance (*IDA) …
Read More »UN trains Somali journalists on CC & HC reporting
MOGADISHU — UN Somalia has trained more than 400 journalists on Climate Change and Humanitarian Crisis (CC & HC) reporting. The training, which comes on the backdrop of the worst drought in 40 years, was organised by the Office of the Special Envoy on the Humanitarian Crisis and Drought. “As …
Read More »UN body warns of dire humanitarian situation in Somalia as famine looms
MOGADISHU — The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on Tuesday warned of a dire humanitarian situation in Somalia with famine fast approaching. The FAO said there is still time to turn the tide by addressing the immediate needs of rural communities, which are amongst those at …
Read More »Displaced Somalis complain about the high cost of living in Mogadishu
When people newly displaced by drought or conflict arrive in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, they often begin by asking for assistance. “They’ll move around all the neighbours and collect items,” explains local businesswoman Habibo Ali Haji. “They’ll knock on each door and ask ‘do you have anything?’ and use what they …
Read More »Climate change fueling worldwide upsurge in cholera, warns WHO
GENEVA — Climate change has driven an “unprecedented” number of larger and more deadly cholera outbreaks reported in around 30 countries this year, the World Health Organization said on Friday. The WHO said at a UN press conference that it is following cholera outbreaks in 30 countries in Africa and …
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Somali Observatory for Humanitarian Affairs The Voice of Reality.. The Eye of Humanitarian Truth in Somalia