Somali religious council has appealed to Somali traders to provide humanitarian assistance to people affected by severe drought which is ravaging the Horn of Africa nation.
Sheikh Bashir Ahmed, the chairman of the council said several parts of Somalia have been affected by drought.
He said the drought has widely affected the country, worsening in some areas and called on Somalis spread across the world to do everything to aid their brothers and sisters suffering from severe drought.
“We appeal to Somali people especially the traders to immediately come to the aid of their brothers and sisters in the affected areas before the situation gets worsened, it is time that aid is delivered very urgently in particular drought stricken areas of the country,” Ahmed said.
Ahmed said the most urgent needs include access to water, food, cash relief, emergency livelihood support, nutrition and health services to reduce morbidity and mortality.
A food crisis in the Horn of Africa, caused by both drought and rising food prices has been deemed a famine in six regions of Somalia, include areas that are under the control of Al-Shabaab.
Pastoralist families are facing a serious shortage of water and pastures after several water points dried up the last few months as a result of dry spell that has hit in many parts of Somalia.
Thousands of Somalis have fled the countryside in search of food and water, trekking for days under scorching sun toward camps in major towns.
