Wednesday August 17, 2022
Mogadishu (HOL) - Somalia's PM chaired a special cabinet meeting on Wednesday to appoint a national drought committee to coordinate famine relief efforts in Somalia.
The PM reactivated the National Disaster Management Agency and appointed a committee of cabinet ministers, business leaders, civil society groups and scholars working alongside government and international organizations.
The Prime Minister called on all Somalis around the globe to help mitigate the emergency.
"We are in a dangerous time today, there is nothing left for the Somali people, we must help each other."
Drought has affected more than 7.1 million people in Somalia, where communities face extreme food insecurity, starvation, and disease due to four consecutive failed rainy seasons.
Over 1 million people have been displaced due to the crisis, which is being billed as the worst drought Somalia has seen in 40 years.
The National Drought Committee will include:
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Interior, Federal and Reconciliation
Minister of Religion and Endowments
Minister of Health and Social Welfare
Minister of Planning, Investment and Economic Development
Minister of Finance
Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism
Minister of Women and Human Rights
Minister of Internal Security
Defense Minister
Minister of Energy and Water
Special Envoy for Drought Emergency
Somali scholars
Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Civil society organizations