Somalia: drought, political instability aggravate humanitarian crisis

The horn of Africa is experiencing a major drought, one that has hit Somalia with particular force.

The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says drought – not political instability – is now the leading cause of new displacement in Somalia: since December of last year, more than 52 thousand people have fled the countryside and travelled to urban areas in search of assistance.

The Apostolic Administrator for Mogadishu and all Somalia, bishop Giorgio Bertin told Vatican Radio he is especially concerned for the people who try to make their living as semi-nomadic shepherds on the arid Somali range. “The humanitarian situation is increasingly worrying as a result of this new dimension of the crisis,” he said.

Bishop Bertin’s concerns were consonant with those expressed by the OCHA, which issued a statement saying that, although migration of people and livestock is not unusual during the dry season, this appears to be the first time ever pastoralists and their livestock have migrated into the capital, a situation the OCHA says is indicative of the severity of the drought situation in the country.

In addition, Somalia is facing a constitutional crisis as a result of the transitional parliament's decision to extend its term for three years. The UN-recognized transitional government has also indicated it would like to have its mandate extended for a one year term.

The mandates for the transitional institutions of Somalia end in August and elected institutions are supposed to take over the running of the country.

Listen to Chris Altieri’s interview with Bishop Bertin on the drought and the political situation in Somalia: