MOGADISHU – Somalia Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble has declared a state of emergency on Tuesday after holding a crisis meeting with his cabinet in the capital Mogadishuv following the widespread drought facing several parts of the country.

“Today, November 23, 2021, after listening to the report prepared by the Drought mitigation Committee, which shows that the country is in a dire situation due to the biting drought, I declare a state of emergency.”

Prime Minister Roble urged the Somali community and international partners to come to the aid of the Somali people who have been hard hit by the ravaging drought situation in the country.

Three people including 2 children died of thirst and hunger near Luq district, Gedo region over the weekend due to a severe drought in Jubaland, Somalia according to Luq DC Ali Kediye.

Jubaland had issued an alarm over the worsening drought in the area.

The Horn of Africa State is now on the brink of a fourth consecutive failed rainfall season”, according to a joint statement by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Somali government which could further wirsen the already dire situation on the ground.

According to UN Somalia’s rapidly worsening drought has left more than two million people facing severe food and water shortages.

International aid agencies and the Somali government said they are ramping up responses to address the critical humanitarian needs.