Hargeisa (Dawan Africa) – Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi “Cirro” has announced an emergency response campaign aimed at assisting communities in Awdal, Sanag, and Saxil, where a prolonged drought is severely affecting lives and livelihoods.
The announcement came during a special session held in Hargeisa, where President Irro chaired a meeting of the Somaliland Council of Ministers on 21 July 2025 to address the escalating humanitarian situation. He warned that the drought had seriously impacted livestock, water access, grazing lands, and local economies—particularly in rural and pastoral communities.
“The situation in some areas—especially Awdal, Sanaag, and Saaxil—is extremely serious. We are committed to doing everything possible to ensure urgent assistance reaches those affected,” Irro said.
As part of the response, President Irro, the Vice President, and all members of the Council of Ministers pledged to donate one month of their salaries to support drought-hit communities.“The President, Vice President, and entire cabinet are contributing one month’s salary to support those impacted by the drought,” a government statement read.
President Irro also called on the Somaliland public—both domestically and in the diaspora—to join the relief effort. In addition, he appealed to the international community and humanitarian agencies to step in with urgent support.
The call follows a recent update from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which reported that over 60 consecutive days without rain had been recorded in parts of Awdal and Sanag, worsening conditions on the ground.
OCHA further noted that only 14% of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) targets for 2025 had been met in the region, resulting in the suspension of water trucking services and leaving more than 300,000 people without access to clean water.
