The World Bank on Friday announced the allocation of $64.3 million for emergency drought response in Ethiopia’s Somali Region.
The World Bank’s response was disclosed when the Chief Administrator of the Somali Region, Mustafa Omer, held discussion with a delegation led by World Bank Country Director for Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan and South Sudan, Ousmane Dinone at his office.
The World Bank Regional Country Director also announced that of the $64.3 million support, $38 million has been made available.
Omer expressed gratitude to the World Bank for the allocation of the fund, which is needed to address the drought situation in the region.
The extended drought in Ethiopia’s Somali region has led to worsening humanitarian situation, forcing at least 300,000 people to internal displacement.
The drought has resulted in lack of access to safe drinking water, people unable to meet their basic needs, diminishing herds and dying of livestock. Over half a million cattle reportedly died as a result of the drought.
More people are going hungry as food and water prices rise, community members are selling their property at lower prices and even being forced to leave their homes, more livestock are dying due to reduced pasture, and more children are dropping out of school, International Rescue Committee (IRC) said recently.
Somalia and Ethiopia feature on IRC’s Emergency Watchlist 2022 as two of 20 countries most at risk of deteriorating humanitarian crisis this year.
MG/GIK/APA