NEW York — IOM, the UN Migration Agency, with the support of the Government of Japan, donated office equipment to Somalia’s newly formed Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management on 20 September. The donation forms part of IOM’s support to the Federal and State level Drought Committees, which will include training and staff secondments.
“We are truly grateful to the Government of Japan for their support of Somalia’s endeavour to better assist the drought-affected people, as well as this opportunity to further our collaboration with IOM,” said Elmi Omar Elmi Aynsane, the Deputy Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, speaking at the handover ceremony. “I am happy to be in the same room with representatives from the state level Drought Committees and to have the opportunity to discuss key issues of benefit to the people and the country.”
“IOM has worked closely with disaster management-mandated institutions at the federal level and state level to identify coordination gaps and potential areas of support, laying the foundation for fruitful and sustained collaboration with the Federal Government,” said Jennifer Pro, IOM Somalia’s Drought Response Coordinator.
Somalia has been gripped by a severe drought since 2016 due to consecutive below average rainy seasons. More than 900,000 Somalis are estimated to have been internally displaced as a result of the drought, many of whom rely entirely on humanitarian assistance for their daily life support. These recently displaced people together with another 1.1 million in protracted displacement, live mainly with host communities or in IDP settlements, often in deplorable conditions, with limited access to basic services and security, and are exposed to protection risks.
IOM has scaled up its life-saving humanitarian response to drought-affected people through the provision of essential primary healthcare and WASH services. Additionally, IOM has focused on strengthening the federal and state level emergency coordination mechanisms to better identify and serve those in need of humanitarian assistance.
While much work has been done to provide the much-needed humanitarian assistance to save lives and livelihoods and avert famine, the needs across Somalia remain of serious concern. Displaced populations will continue to require support as they make their way back home or form new communities and find durable solutions.
IOM will continue to support the Somalia Drought Committees to better respond to communities in need.
