MOGADISHU — Somalia’s disaster management authorities and senior United Nations officials have called for greater unity and funding to tackle worsening drought conditions after holding high-level talks in the capital, officials said.
The Commissioner of the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), Mahmoud Macalin Abdulle, met at the agency’s headquarters with James Swan and George Conway to discuss the humanitarian situation and response efforts.
According to officials, the meeting focused on the expanding drought affecting vulnerable communities across several regions of the Horn of Africa nation and on ways to strengthen emergency assistance.
Speaking at a joint press conference after the talks, Swan stressed the need for solidarity to confront the crisis, noting that the United Nations would continue supporting Somalis facing humanitarian challenges.
He also underlined the urgent need for increased funding to bolster relief operations, warning that international aid flows and donor priorities have shifted over the past 18 months, complicating response efforts.
For his part, Abdulle thanked the UN delegation for its visit and highlighted that drought conditions were spreading to additional regions. He urged citizens and the business community to play a stronger role in supporting those affected, as authorities seek to scale up assistance amid growing needs.
