The President of the Jubaland State, H.E. Ahmed Mohamed Islam, received at the Presidential Palace the Deputy Special Envoy of the United Nations and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Mr. George Conway, and the delegation he led, who are assessing the impact of the drought affecting areas of Jubaland.

The President stated that more than one and a half million (1.5 million) people have been directly affected by the drought, while thousands of livestock have perished, severely undermining the economic livelihoods of the population that depended on livestock. He noted that people displaced by the effects of the drought are currently receiving limited assistance provided by the Jubaland Drought Response Committee, which is delivering water trucking and food to areas most severely affected by the drought.

The President also pointed out that the drought may continue to persist, posing a serious threat to the lives of the population if urgent assistance and international support are not secured. He emphasized that immediate support is critically important at this time to prevent the situation from deteriorating into famine, particularly highlighting that water and food are the most pressing challenges currently facing the affected communities.

Finally, the President called upon the international community, the Somali people, and the diaspora from the region to participate in the ongoing relief efforts in order to prevent the crisis from worsening beyond its current state.

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