|
Hargeysa,
Somaliland, May 16, 2009 (SL Times) – Somaliland's National Drought
Commission held a meeting with international and national agencies at
the ministry of interior. The purpose of the meeting was to get
international and national agencies to take part in the efforts to
provide emergency water to the people living in drought stricken areas
of the country.
The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Planning, Mr Ali Ibrahim
Muhammad (Ali Sanyare). In a press conference after the meeting, the
minister of Planning stressed that the reason they had the meeting was
to focus on the urgency of the drought situation, what can be done about
it, and how to come up with agreed upon long-term plan in which the
country should always have in stock a three months supplies of food,
medicine and other materials that are needed to deal with emergency
situations. He also underscored that among the topics discussed was how
to improve the conditions of water wells in rural areas.
Parts of Somaliland, particularly in the east (Togdheer, Odweyne and
Sool) are suffering from a serious drought, and nomads who moved their
livestock to areas where it had recently rained have to contend with the
ensuing problem of locust.
The Governor of Togdheer, Jama Muhammad Bin sent an urgent appeal to
Somaliland's government, international and local agencies, businessmen
and ordinary citizens for urgent help to the drought-stricken areas.
The minister of planning said that although reports have reached them
that about 80% of the country has received rain, they will continue
their efforts to help the afflicted areas.
The National Drought Commission is composed of seven ministries and is
chaired by Somaliland's vice-president.
|
