Somalia has received $10.5 million in funding to address the ongoing drought crisis and prevent famine. 

The initiative was launched in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, through a trilateral partnership involving the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the British Embassy in Mogadishu. 

The collaboration, known as the Building Resilient Communities in Somalia (BRCiS) consortium, aims to combine investments from the UK, US, and Qatar into a single program.

This new trilateral partnership builds upon previous famine prevention and resilience investments made by USAID, UKAID, and QFFD in the past year. 

Over the next six months, the funding will support the BRCiS consortium in sustaining essential services and accelerating recovery efforts. 

Perrine Piton, the BRCiS chief of the Party, emphasized the life-saving impact of these contributions. The funds will strengthen market-based systems, provide emergency food assistance to 41,000 people, ensure access to clean water and sanitation for 330,000 individuals, and deliver crucial health and nutrition services to 175,000 people.

The situation in Somalia is dire, with severe drought exacerbated by ongoing conflicts. United Nations projections indicate that 6.6 million people in Somalia are experiencing severe food insecurity. 

Since January 2022, over 3 million people have been displaced, and mortality rates have surpassed those seen in 2017. 

Shockingly, an estimated 43,000 deaths have already occurred, with half affecting children under five, according to the UN. Over half a million children under five are at risk of severe malnourishment and death this year without sustained support. 

The trilateral partnership’s funding aims to address these urgent needs and assist the vulnerable population in Somalia.