KISMAYO, Somalia – The UN’s top aid worker in Somalia has called for swift action to prevent a disaster in Somalia in the midst of an impending drought.
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Adam Abdelmoula, Deputy Special Representative for the Secretary-General and UN-Residential and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, said about 3.4 million people are expected to be affected by the drought in the country.
Extreme dry conditions and water scarcity are reported in 34 districts; the hardest hit areas are Somaliland, Northeastern State, Galmudug, Hirshabelle and Jubaland, ”Abdelmoula said in a statement in Mogadishu on Monday night.
He said more than 83,300 Somalis have already been displaced by water shortages and dry conditions in the last four months.
“The unfolding water crisis in Somalia is a strong reminder that we urgently need long-term sustainable development solutions to complement humanitarian action and tackle the root causes of recurring climate shocks in Somalia,” said Abdelmoula.
According to the UN, approx. 23 percent of Somalis in the countryside have unimproved or unprotected water, and five percent drink clean surface water.
It said Somalia is the only country in the world with a gap of more than 50 points between urban and agricultural use of water services.
The UN said the situation is particularly challenging for women and children, especially girls, as scarcity increases the care burden required to collect water, as well as the risk of abuse and gender-based violence.
Abdelmoula said the UN expects water scarcity to increase the risk of communicable disease outbreaks, such as acute aqueous diarrhea, increase the vulnerability of populations already at risk and worsen food security.
“Without sustained humanitarian aid, 2.65 million Somalis are expected to be exposed to a crisis or a worse level of food insecurity in June due to below-average rainfall,” he warned.
The UN official said that access to and use of safe drinking water and sanitation has improved significantly in Somalia over the last ten years.
Over half of the Somali population had basic access to safe drinking water in 2019 compared to 20 percent in 2010, the UN said.
Abdelmoula called on Somalia’s authorities, partners and donors to lead the way in implementing sustainable water management solutions to break the cyclical pattern of water crises in the country.
He also urged donors to ensure adequate funding for immediate life-saving water and sanitation interventions.
