Saudi Arabia pledges emergency aid to nearly 100,000 Somalis
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) has announced emergency assistance for nearly 100,000 people affected by Somalia’s worsening drought.
The Africa Office of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) has announced a major emergency assistance package targeting almost 100,000 of the most vulnerable people affected by Somalia’s rapidly worsening drought.
The pledge was made public on Sunday in Mogadishu following high-level discussions between Yazeed Abdullahi Hammoud, KSrelief’s Regional Director for Africa, and Mahmoud Moallim Abdulle, Commissioner of the National Disaster Management Authority (SoDMA). The meeting focused on assessing the escalating drought crisis and identifying the fastest and most effective means of delivering life-saving support to communities in dire need.
According to KSrelief, the new aid package is designed to reach households facing acute shortages of food, water, and essential services, particularly in regions where the humanitarian situation has deteriorated sharply due to successive failed rainy seasons. The Centre emphasized that Saudi Arabia remains committed to standing by the Somali people during periods of hardship.
“Saudi Arabia has always been a steadfast partner to Somalia,” Yazeed said, reaffirming his country’s long-term commitment to continue supporting humanitarian operations whenever crises arise. He noted that the Kingdom views its assistance to Somalia as a moral duty and a core component of its international relief priorities.
SoDMA Commissioner Mahmoud Moallim Abdulle welcomed the announcement, describing Saudi Arabia as among the first nations to respond swiftly to Somalia’s call for emergency support. He commended KSrelief for its consistent humanitarian engagement and noted that the new aid package would significantly bolster ongoing drought-response efforts across multiple regions.
"The assistance will greatly strengthen our collective effort to reach families who are already on the brink," he said, adding that SoDMA is working closely with international partners to prevent further loss of life as the crisis continues to intensify.
Somalia is currently facing one of its most severe droughts in recent years, following four consecutive failed rainy seasons, according to the United Nations. The prolonged dry conditions have pushed millions into hunger, displaced thousands of families, and depleted livestock and crops across central, northern, and southern regions.
On November 10, the Federal Government declared a national drought emergency, appealing for urgent international assistance to avert widespread famine. Humanitarian agencies warn that needs are rising rapidly, with many areas already experiencing critical water shortages, malnutrition, and heightened displacement.
The new support from KSrelief is expected to complement ongoing relief operations and help stabilize communities most heavily impacted by the drought as government agencies and aid organizations race against time to prevent further deterioration.
