by Xinhua reporter Wang Jiangang
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The drought situation in Somalia is very critical and some 1 million people, including children, women, and elderly people, are displaced by the drought, Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, Somali president's special envoy for drought relief, has said.
"They don't have food. They don't have water. They don't have health care. We are facing the greatest humanitarian catastrophe in the last two decades," Warsame told Xinhua in an interview on Thursday ahead of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly.
"We are knocking on every door to get that support" to help several million Somalis who are struggling to survive, said Warsame.
According to the United Nations, the worst famine of the 21st century is unfolding in the Horn of Africa. For months, a climate-change-fueled drought of historic proportions, coupled with other factors, has caused severe food shortages in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya.
Four consecutive failed rainy seasons have threatened millions with food insecurity in the Horn of Africa country. "If the fifth rainy season fails in October, we are knocking the door of famine," the special envoy said.
With the help of the international community, Warsame said 68 percent of Somalia's 2022 humanitarian response plan had been funded. "But still, the gap is huge," he said.
On his country's resources and advantages, Warsame said Somalia is "the land of resources," including farming, fishery, renewable energy and even "entrepreneur skills of the communities."
"But we cannot take that advantage, and we cannot realize that potentiality because we are facing a dire situation caused by the drought" and the destruction of extremists, he added.
According to Warsame, Somalia's government is coordinating efforts to respond to the humanitarian situation, allocating resources, easing access, implementing tax exemption and expediting customs clearance for humanitarian delivery.
"We are trying to create a conducive environment where the international community and donor community can provide assistance," he noted.
"We are appealing to international community and particular community to pay attention (to our plight), to support and fund the humanitarian response plan that the government of Somalia has developed," said the special envoy. ■
Related articles:
Related suggestion:
Who is Ebrahim Raisi, Iran's president involved in helicopter incidentWho is Ebrahim Raisi, Iran's president involved in helicopter incidentLate crash knocks Nolan Siegel out of Indianapolis 500, keeps Ericsson and Rahal in starting fieldUkraine, Russia exchange drone attacks while Russia continues its push in the eastSean “Diddy” Combs issues apology for beating exJurgen Klopp welcomes likely successor Arne Slot with a song in Liverpool farewellGrand champion crowned 'Best in pork' at World barbecue championshipBader, Taylor spark 4Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commoditiesWikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's legal saga could soon end in UK
2.8323s , 6504.203125 kb
Copyright © 2024 Powered by Interview: Somalia seeks drought relief funding in worst humanitarian crisis ,Cosmic Coverage news portal