Mogadishu (Dawan Africa)– The Banaadir Regional Administration has announced a $200,000 emergency relief donation to support the ongoing drought response in Awdal, one of the worst-affected regions in northwestern Somalia, located within the self-declared Republic of Somaliland.
The funds will be channeled through the Somalia Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) to support urgent, life-saving interventions for communities severely affected by the prolonged drought.
The announcement followed a meeting in Mogadishu between Banaadir Governor and Mayor of Mogadishu, Dr. Hassan Mohamed Hussein (Muungaab), and a delegation of federal ministers and members of parliament representing Awdal. According to officials, the delegation briefed the governor on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the region, where persistent drought has devastated livelihoods and disrupted daily life for tens of thousands.
Following the meeting, Governor Muungaab emphasized the importance of national solidarity in times of crisis.
“The Banaadir Administration and the people of Mogadishu stand ready to support their brothers and sisters in Awdal. The funds will be transferred to SoDMA to facilitate life-saving emergency aid,” he said.
He added that the donation will be delivered swiftly to SoDMA to ensure rapid response in the hardest-hit and most remote areas of the region.
The Banaadir contribution comes just as SoDMA Chairman Mahmoud Maallim Abdulle announced that Somalia’s Council of Ministers has approved an additional $500,000 in federal emergency funds for Awdal. The agency has called for coordinated support across all levels of government and international partners to prevent the crisis from worsening.
According to SoDMA’s latest drought impact report, more than 600,000 people across Awdal have been affected. In Borama, Baki, Lughaya, and Zeila districts, over 264,000 people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, including food, clean water, and medical services. In Borama alone, an estimated 98% of the population is facing critical conditions.
The drought in Awdal is part of a broader humanitarian emergency gripping northern Somalia, where delayed rainfall, rising prices, and poor infrastructure have put millions at risk of hunger and displacement. Humanitarian agencies continue to warn that immediate action is needed to prevent the situation from spiraling into famine.
