Somali Prime Minister Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Tuesday appointed Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame as a special envoy for drought response in the country.
Mohamud said he appointed Abdishakur owing to his vast experience and understanding of humanitarian and development fields including policy delivery.
“Abdishakur will be tasked with working, nationally, regionally and internationally with all partners and stakeholders to find sustainable solutions to mitigate and enable our citizens to overcome the worst impacts of the drought in Somalia at the earliest possible opportunity,” Mohamud said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
The move comes as Somalia is facing its driest season in 40 years and deteriorating humanitarian situation.
The president urged the special envoy to spearhead government response, coordinate and advocate international assistance amid worsening drought.
He said the announcement signals his resolve to mitigate drought challenges given its enormity as climate related shocks continue to impact the lives and livelihoods of the citizens.
The latest move comes as several parts of Somalia have been ravaged by severe drought with the United Nations reporting that the number of people affected by drought has risen to 6.1 million.
According to the UN, Somalia faces a heightened risk of localized famine in six communities if food prices continue to rise and humanitarian assistance is not sustained.
The UN has called on donors to deliver on pledges and commitments made in April at a high-level event in Geneva focused on humanitarian needs in the Horn of Africa.
The UN agency said the drought is compounding severe vulnerabilities and humanitarian needs caused by decades of protracted conflict and insecurity, climate shocks and disease outbreak. Enditem
