Nairobi (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Somali Red Crescent Society is currently distributing rice, beans and cereals to nearly 60,000 people affected by a debilitating drought in the northern parts of Somalia.
The ICRC and SRCS began the food distributions on April 7th because of the deteriorating situation for families dealing with drought. Below average rains during the Deyr rainy season made the situation worse causing livestock prices to fall. This has caused a shortfall in household incomes in the drought-hit areas.
“These shocks compound the vulnerability that already exists for people living in a region of conflict,” said Jordi Raich Curcó, the head of ICRC’s Somalia delegation. “Unfortunately, this isn’t new or unique; the drought is only the latest example of such cyclical phenomena. We hope our intervention can help some of the affected communities see the drought through.”
The rice, beans, cereals and vegetable oil that was distributed around Bari, Nugaal, Sool and Sanag is expected to last one month, well into the Gu rains expected between April and June.
Somalia experiences dry seasons every year, when water ways go dry and boreholes often become the only source of water. Residents often must pay money for the use of the boreholes, using up families’ limited resources.
“This year the dry season has been very tough,” said Fernando Resta, the head of ICRC’s water projects in Somalia. “Now water from boreholes is much more expensive. Our food distribution means that these families will have to spend less money on food so they can afford to buy water.”
Mothers at a distribution point in drought-hit Sool region receive food from the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Since 2014, the ICRC has constructed 11 boreholes, 15 berkaads, 10 hand-dug wells and five rainwater catchments in the regions affected by drought. In 2015, 7,800 people received a total of 23,000 date palm seedlings to support the farm trade.
For further information, please contact:
Pedram Yazdi, Nairobi : +254 700 888 131
Jason Straziuso, Nairobi +254 733 622 026
