Mogadishu, Somalia - December 31, 2024 The Commissioner of the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), Mahamud Moallim Abdulle announced that the country is facing a severe drought due to the delayed Deyr rainy season in September, October, and November. The commissioner highlighted the need for focused efforts to support our communities during this critical time. Recent reports show that over 5.98m individuals need humanitarian assistance, with 3.2m in critical situations. Immediate action is required for nearly 200k people displaced by drought and to address the impact of famine, which has led to the loss of 1.4 million livestock. SoDMA is responding to severe drought challenges, assisting 2.1 million people in the last three months. To improve awareness and humanitarian efforts, $1.45 billion is needed to address the drought’s impact in over 13 of the 18 provinces. Mr. Mahamud urged government agencies, affluent Somalis, and donors to come together in a unified effort to advocate for relief measures and to mitigate the impact of the drought. He also expressed gratitude to governments and donors for their ongoing support.