UK announces additional $8m drought relief to Somalia

Somalia Prime minister Mohamed Hussein Rooble held talks with UK officials on Somalia’s drought condition. In an effort to cushion drought-stricken Somalia from further effects of famine, UK’s Special Envoy for Famine Prevention and Humanitarian Affairs, Nick Dyer has announced an additional $8 million (£5.5 million) package of UK support to deal with the effects of the drought.

Officials warned that if the situation is not acted upon as soon as possible, extreme losses and further instability will be felt in the country. The current donation is an addition to the $10 million announced by the UK’s Minister for Africa, Vicky Ford in January 2022.

At the end of last year, the federal government of Somalia announced an emergency situation in southern Somalia and asked the international community to immediately react to this worsening condition.

Over 270,000 people have already abandoned their homes in search of food and water, making Somalia one of the most severely affected by the drought in the region.