British Embassy Mogadishu announces £5.5 million of
humanitarian funding for El Niño response in
Somalia.
UK support will provide vital health, nutrition, water
and sanitation to some of Somalia’s most vulnerable
flood-affected communities.
The UK has also announced £7.4 million drought insurance
protection for Somalia.
The British Embassy Mogadishu has announced almost $7 million
(£5.5 million) of additional funding to support the ongoing
humanitarian response to El Niño in Somalia.
In the last month, heavy rains and flooding in parts the country
have impacted over two million Somalis, with more than 700,000
people displaced from their homes.
This much needed additional humanitarian assistance will offer
life-saving support to those affected by the floods including
food security assistance, health, nutrition and water, hygiene
and sanitation. The heavy rains and flooding in Somalia come
after two years of protracted drought and associated humanitarian
impacts.
The new humanitarian funding comes as the UK announced £100
million of support to countries vulnerable to the impacts of
climate change, at COP28 on 3 December. This included £7.4
million to support the Federal Government of Somalia’s access to
drought response insurance cover over the next three years
through African Risk Capacity (ARC), which will provide rapid
payouts to vulnerable communities if rains fail.
Speaking about the innovative drought insurance cover,
Minister of State for Development and Africa, , said:
Somalia faces one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world,
with the devastating effects of climate change hitting the most
vulnerable the hardest. Extreme weather can be catastrophic – and
it’s vital that Somali communities are protected and prepared.
This funding will provide rapid and targeted support where it is
needed most, if rainy seasons fail over the next three years.
This long-term approach will help Somalia to better plan and
prepare for the risk of drought, part of the commitment by the UK
and its partners to build climate resilience across the
continent.
This support extends a ground-breaking partnership with the
Africa Development Bank which brings innovative new crisis
financing mechanisms to Somalia for faster responses to save
lives.
Recognising the urgency of the challenges posed by climate
change, which forces 26 million into poverty every year, the UK
also joined calls at COP28 for bolder collective action to
protect the lives, health and livelihoods of those most impacted
by climate change.
UK Development Director to Somalia, Damon Bristow,
said:
As Member States meet in Dubai at COP28, El Niño flooding in
Somalia is a stark reminder of the impacts of climate change
today on vulnerable countries. If global temperatures continue to
rise, countries like Somalia will continue to experience more
frequent weather extremes with disastrous human impacts without
affected adaptation.
This new funding announcement will be crucial to ensure affected
communities are reached with timely support. We have committed to
support prevention measures as well the response to the crisis.
Notes to editors:
