AU donates $100,000 towards Somalia drought relief, $863.5m needed

Somalia

The African Union has donated $100,000 to Somalia in support of the fight against starvation caused by drought affecting the Horn of Africa and other parts of the continent.

The new Chairperson of the Commission announced the donation during his first visit to the country on Saturday where he called on member states, private sector and the international community to emulate the gesture.

“I had the privilege of being received by the Prime Minister and President of the Federal Republic and I expressed our support and solidarity to Somalia … the African Union will stand with Somalia during this difficult time,” Moussa Faki Mahamat told journalists in Mogadishu.

Somalia is facing the brunt of the climate change coupled with the Islamist group al-Shabaab insurgency which is battling the UN-backed government for over a decade.

According to the U.N., 6.2 million people in Somalia need humanitarian assistance and protection, including 2.9 million who are at risk of famine and require immediate help.

During the previous famine in 2011, humanitarian response was slow and nearly 260,000 people died before the famine was officially declared in July.

The United Nations has estimated that financial aid of $863.5 million is needed to save lives and livelihoods in Somalia.

Somalia’s President Mohammed Abdullahi Mohammed Farmajo declared the ongoing drought in the country a national disaster to address the humanitarian emergency in all affected areas.

Read here for the reality of the drought situtaion on the ground in Somalia, South Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia and other parts of Africa affected by climate change and conflict. > Reality of the worst drought since 1945 peaking in parts of Africa https://t.co/NURh6FoQ3z