Somalia and UK co-chair high-level talks on drought and humanitarian response.

The Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Salah Ahmed Jama, and the UK Minister of State for International Development and Africa, Baroness Chapman, jointly chaired a high-level virtual meeting on Somalia’s humanitarian situation, with a focus on the severe drought and urgent relief needs.

The meeting brought together donors, international organizations, and senior officials to discuss ways to strengthen support for communities affected by the ongoing drought.

The Commissioner of the National Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), Mahmoud Moallim Abdulle, presented a detailed briefing on the drought situation, noting that approximately 6.5 million people are experiencing food insecurity, while more than 2 million face life-threatening conditions as malnutrition continues to worsen.

The meeting was attended by representatives from several international partners, including the World Bank, the European Union, OCHA, World Food Programme, FAO, IFAD, Save the Children, Oxfam, and CARE International.

Earlier in February, the Federal Government of Somalia submitted a comprehensive drought response plan to the international community, focusing on strengthening community resilience and improving preparedness for future disasters.