ENVIRONMENT AND DISASTERS

ADDIS ABABA — More than one million cattle have died due to the ongoing severe drought in Ethiopia’s Somali region. The drought, which is said to be the worst drought that hit Ethiopia’s southeastern Somali region in 40 years, has severely affected the region’s pastoralist community as more than one …

HARGEISA — The Somali region of Somaliland launched an international appeal on Wednesday for $2 billion to urgently deliver humanitarian and livelihood support. The appeal comes after a huge fire destroyed the main market in the capital Hargeisa, wiping out t an estimated 5,000 small, medium and large family businesses …

MOGADISHU —  Thousands of residents in Somalia have started to flee their villages in search of a better life after three consecutive years without enough rainfall because of climate change. When Ibrahim Abdiyow fled Diinsoor in the Baay region, the drought was not as devastating as it is now. He …

HARGEISA — Heavy fire broke out today in Somaliland’s biggest and main market of Hargeisa, causing heavy financial losses. Police and volunteers using fire trucks could be seen trying to put out the blaze, and efforts are still under way to prevent the blaze from spreading to other areas. The …

MOGADISHU — In May 2021, a prolonged downpour of rains in Somalia caused the Shabelle River to overflow, flooding the nearby region of Jowhar and resulting in entire communities being submerged. More than 13,700 people were affected by the flood, resulting in thousands losing their homes and livelihoods from the …

NAIROBI — The Somali federal government attended a meeting between governments and the United Nations in Nairobi, Kenya, on the issue of stopping the export of charcoal. The Somali embassy in Kenya hosted the conference, and were attended by Gulf States, East African and United Nations development and environmental agencies. …

HARGEISA — The United Nations Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Adam Abdelmoula, visited Somaliland to assess the drought situation. He highlighted the need for urgent humanitarian support to drought-affected communities in the area. During the two-day visit, Mr. Abdelmoula toured the drought-affected area of …

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Minister of Planning, Investment and Economic Development has hailed the inauguration of IGAD’s Centre for Climate Adaption and Environmental Protection (CAEP) in Somalia. The centre was officially launched in Mogadishu on Thursday, 23 December 2021 by President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed ‘Farmaajo’, accompanied by the Intergovernmental Authority on …

BAIDOA — Somalia’s climate crisis is a problem created by industrialized nations, Somali presidential spokesman Abdirashid Mohamed Hashi told Anadolu Agency on Friday. “Frequent catastrophes caused by droughts and floods are caused by climate change which is also leading to a widespread gradual destruction in the country’s environment,” he said. …

MOGADISHU —  Africa’s Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has opened a research center in Somalia to combat climate change. Severe drought and flooding displaced nearly half-a-million Somalis last year. The new center, located in the Somali capital, will conduct research, collect data and analyze and disseminate new information on climate change …