Today (25 May 2023) the United States, through the US Agency for
International Development (USAID), the
British Embassy in Mogadishu, and the Qatar Fund for Development
(QFFD) announced
the launch of a $10.5 million drought assistance and resilience
program through the Building Resilient Communities in Somalia
(BRCiS)
consortium.
The trilateral partnership builds upon famine prevention and
resilience investments made by USAID, UKAID,
and QFFD in 2021
to 2022. It will enable BRCiS to
sustain lifesaving service delivery while accelerating recovery
efforts over the next 6 months.
Severe drought, compounded by conflict, in Somalia has left 6.6
million people severely food insecure. Since January 2022, more
than 3 million people have been displaced and mortality rates
have surpassed those in 2017. An estimated 43,000 deaths have
already occurred - half of which were among children under the
age of 5. Without continued support, more than half a million
children under the age of 5 are at risk of severe malnourishment
and death this year.
Mike Nithavrianakis, British Ambassador to Somalia said:
The situation in Somalia remains critical. We applaud our
partners’ sustained delivery of humanitarian assistance which
helped to avert nationwide famine this year. This is significant,
but humanitarian aid alone cannot address the crisis. That is why
the UK is reinforcing BRCiS’
response through continued collaboration with the US and Qatar.
The tripartite collaboration will for the first time combine
investments from the UK, US, and Qatar under one program,
BRCiS. This
will ensure the continued delivery of emergency cash assistance
to purchase food and multi-sector humanitarian assistance,
alongside resilience activities to ensure communities are
protected and empowered.
Perrine Piton, BRCiS Chief of
Party said:
These contributions will save lives. The funds will enable us to
reinforce market-based systems that drive supply and demand
initiatives while ensuring 41,000 people receive emergency food
assistance (multi-purpose cash); 330,000 individuals have access
to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene materials; and 175,000
people are provided with lifesaving health and nutrition
services.
US Ambassador Larry André said:
BRCiS will
continue to support the Somali people in their communities.
Partnership – iskashi – is at the heart of the work of the United
States with Somalia. This extension expands that partnership with
the UK and Qatar to build on past success.
His Excellency Dr Abdullah bin Salim Al-Naimi, Ambassador of the
State of Qatar to Somalia, said:
The drought crisis has cast a shadow on the already worsening
humanitarian situation in Somalia due to the coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic. This affected millions and has increased the
threat of famine, displacement, food insecurity, and severe
malnutrition among children, which imposes on everyone without
exception.
Providing humanitarian and relief support would alleviate
millions affected by humanitarian conditions, helping them to
withstand these complex situations further, and working to save
lives, which is primarily a human duty.
Further information
