MOGADISHU – The Somali government assured the public that it would spare no efforts to help the tens of thousands of people uprooted by the ongoing flash floods and heavy rains that caused humanitarian crisis in most parts of the country.
Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre has on Saturday announced the establishment of a 22-member team, headed by his deputy, Mahdi Mohamed Guled, to carry out a needs assessment and coordinate the government’s emergency response efforts across the nation.
“We tell every affected (by the flash floods and heavy downpour), you will be aided,” Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre said in a press conference in the nation’s capital, Mogadishu, after meeting with government officials, clerics and women.
He added: “We pray for the victims, but speaking on behalf of the government, we assure them that the government will do whatever it can and spare no efforts in helping them, wherever they’re in Somalia regions.”
The heavy downpour and flash floods, which started last month, rendered roads impassible, disrupted learning activities and washed away farmlands. At least three people have so far drowned.
The United Nations humanitarian agency said last week that the crisis has affected more than 427,000 people in different parts of the nation, 175,000 of whom have already left their homes in southern regions.
The government’s emergency response team, said the premier, is made up of clerics, women and lawmakers. Several ministries are represented, including humanitarian and disaster management, health, water, security and agriculture ministries.
“We have agreed to help those Somali people as soon as possible, and that the Somali government direct all its resources to help those people as soon as possible,” Prime Minister Khayre said.
The Premier has also met with all Mogadishu-based foreign diplomats and representatives from UN agencies and other international and local aid organizations to update them on the affects of the flash floods.
“We’ve briefed them on the current (humanitarian) situation in the country and urged them to urgently send aid to the affected people,” he said. “They promised to offer their assistance as soon as possible.”
Khayre said he would also meet with the national security organs so as he order them to play their role in helping their fellow countrymen and women.
The UN says although the Gu’ rains are expected to ease the impact of severe drought conditions occasioned by four consecutive poor rainy seasons, the floods will also compound an already fragile humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa nation.
An estimated 5.4 million people are in need of assistance, 2.7 million of whom require urgent life-saving assistance, says the UN.
The current available and pledged funding of $382 million – out of $1.5 billion requirement – is “insufficient to support on-going operations and are inadequate to support a robust flood response.”
Premier Khayre called on citizens to help one another and “to solve by ourselves any problem that afflict us.”
“The best things happen in the country when you help one another,” he said. “Stand up again for the assistance of your people and country.”
He asked the committee to hit the ground running and quickly issue a needs assessment, so as the government and the public can assist the people affected by the flash floods and heavy downpour.
The government will send any medicine or tents it has in its stores to the affected regions, Khayre said.
The UN has last week called on donors to help Somalia address the root causes of its citizen’s vulnerability, especially after the raging flash floods caused massive financial losses.