The government of the Republic of Somaliland, on Wednesday, again declared a state of severe drought in several regions in the east of the country, extending 8 billion Somaliland Shillings, equivalent to US$1.06 million to the drought effort.
Speaking at the handover occasion, the Minister for the Presidency, Mohamoud Hashi Abdi, revealed that over 1 million Somalilanders in the regions of Sahil, Sool, Saraar, Togdheer, Sanaag and Haysimo were adversely affected by the drought.
“Today conditions have reached a stage where not only livestock but human lives are on the verge of extinction due to the protracted, severe drought,” he said.
Having been alerted to the severity of the drought by reports compiled by the National Drought Committee (NDC), local and international NGOs and all regional and district authorities in affected areas, His Excellency the President, Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud ‘Silanyo’, Minister Hashi disclosed, ordered an emergency, national relief effort to rush life-saving supplies to both herders and their fast-dwindling herds.
“The President,” he added, conceding that a million Dollars cannot be hoped to assuage or save the situation, “calls on all Somalilanders not to spare a dime or effort to go to the aid of beleaguered brothers and sisters at these trying, difficult times”.
Present at the occasion, besides the NDC members, were the ministers of Presidency, Interior, Finance, Endowments, Information and other high-ranking officers of the government.
