Somalia’s national disaster agency has warned that the country’s drought could worsen dramatically after the expected seasonal rains failed to arrive, forcing families to flee rural areas in search of essential resources. The Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) reports severe water shortages across large regions, with pastoralist communities hit hardest as their livestock face depletion.
SoDMA head Mahmoud Maalim Abdulle says the current situation resembles the devastating 2017 drought, which claimed more than 40,000 lives. He identified Galmudug state as one of the most severely affected regions, cautioning that entire communities are at risk without immediate assistance. Over the past few months, SoDMA has issued alerts about the deteriorating humanitarian situation and stressed the urgent need for aid.
The agency has appealed to international partners and Somali diaspora communities to increase emergency assistance, as millions of people confront worsening food and water shortages. Rural areas are among the hardest hit, with many families relying on livestock as their primary source of income. The failure of seasonal rains has left pastoralists without water or grazing land for their animals.
The Somali government, through SoDMA, is working to respond to the crisis, but its efforts are constrained by limited resources. The international community has been urged to provide support to mitigate the drought’s effects, which could evolve into a full‑blown humanitarian emergency. Rapid mobilization of aid is essential to prevent further suffering and loss of life, and both the Somali government and international partners must collaborate to deliver essential support to those affected.
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