The President of Jubbaland, Ahmed Mohamed Islam, today received George Conway, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, along with his delegation at the Presidential Palace in Kismayo. The visit aimed to assess the severe impact of the ongoing drought across Jubbaland.
President Ahmed Mohamed Islam revealed that over 1.5 million people have been directly affected by the drought, with thousands of livestock perishing—crippling the livelihoods of communities that depend heavily on pastoralism. He noted that displaced families are currently receiving limited assistance from the Jubbaland Drought Response Committee, which is providing water trucking and food supplies to the hardest-hit areas.
The President warned that the drought could persist, posing a grave threat to lives unless urgent international aid is mobilized. He emphasized that water and food remain the most critical needs, and without immediate intervention, the situation risks escalating into famine.
Finally, President Islam appealed to the international community, Somali citizens, and the diaspora to join hands in supporting ongoing relief efforts to prevent the crisis from worsening.
