Djibouti (Dawan Africa) – Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has appealed to the Government of Djibouti to provide humanitarian assistance to communities in Awdal, a region in northwestern Somalia that lies within the self-declared Republic of Somaliland.
The request came during a meeting held on Sunday at the Presidential Palace in Djibouti, where President Hassan met with Djibouti’s President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh. According to a statement from Villa Somalia, the two leaders discussed strengthening strategic ties—particularly on matters of security cooperation, counterterrorism, and support for Somalia’s state-building agenda.
However, the humanitarian crisis in Awdal took center stage. President Hassan Sheikh specifically asked Djibouti to play an active role in supporting the drought-hit population.
“President Hassan Sheikh called on the Government of Djibouti to contribute meaningfully to the humanitarian response targeting Somali communities affected by drought in Awdal region,” the statement said.
Awdal, which shares a border and close social ties with Djibouti, has been among the hardest-hit regions during Somalia’s ongoing drought emergency. According to the IPC Food Security and Nutrition Analysis for April–June 2025, more than 81,000 people in Awdal were classified in IPC Phase 3 or higher—indicating severe food insecurity requiring urgent assistance.
Humanitarian agencies attribute the crisis to prolonged drought, water shortages, livestock deaths, and a sharp rise in malnutrition—particularly among women and children.
Somalia’s government has previously declared the situation in Awdal a localized humanitarian emergency and is now seeking regional support to scale up relief efforts.
The United Nations has warned that over 5.9 million people across Somalia require urgent humanitarian aid in 2025. This includes 4.6 million people facing acute food insecurity and 1.8 million children expected to suffer from life-threatening malnutrition if aid is not delivered on time.
