Allocates US$1 Million in Initial Government Funding and Calls for Immediate Global Support
Republic of Somaliland’s President H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Irro) 0n 23rd November 2025 launched an urgent nation and world-wide humanitarian appeal, warning that a rapidly worsening drought – triggered by the complete failure of both the 2025 Gu’ and Deyr rainy seasons – now endangers the lives and livelihoods of more than one million people across Somaliland.
In a strongly worded statement, the President called on donor governments, UN agencies, international and national NGOs, civil society, the private sector, and the wider business community to mobilise resources without delay. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to lead and coordinate the response through the National Drought Response Committee (chaired by the Vice President) to ensure aid is delivered transparently, efficiently, and to those most in need.
Citing the latest updates from the National Drought Response Committee and the National Disaster Preparedness and Food Reserve Authority (NADFOR), President Abdillahi described conditions as “rapidly deteriorating,” with severe impacts now affecting every region of the country.
Latest assessments show that 1,037,370 individuals (172,895 households) are facing crisis-level or worse acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 and above). The most critically affected areas are Togdheer, Sanaag, Maroodi-Jeex, the wider Hawd pastoral zone, Awdal, Sool, Sahil, and Salel regions.
The drought has caused:
- Widespread drying of traditional water reservoirs (berkads)
- Severe strain on the few remaining functional boreholes
- Total collapse of pasture and rangeland resources
- Sharp rise in livestock deaths and distress sales
- Near-total crop failure and depletion of household food stocks
- Acute water shortages, forcing communities to depend on costly water trucking
President Abdillahi outlined six immediate priority needs:
- Emergency water access – large-scale water trucking, borehole rehabilitation, and temporary storage solutions
- Life-saving food assistance – direct food distributions and emergency cash transfers where markets remain functional
- Rising malnutrition – rapid expansion of feeding programmes for children, pregnant and lactating women, and the elderly
- Livestock protection – emergency animal feed, veterinary treatment, and vaccination campaigns
- Agricultural recovery – distribution of drought-tolerant seeds and farming inputs for the next planting season
- Long-term resilience – investment in solar-powered boreholes, rangeland restoration, and livelihood diversification
The appeal comes just ten days after the Vice President’s 17 November statement that first raised the national alarm, highlighting how swiftly the crisis has deepened.
Humanitarian partners report skyrocketing water-trucking costs, rapidly climbing child malnutrition rates, and accelerating livestock mortality – threatening the primary livelihood source for the majority of Somaliland’s population.
The President’s call for action builds on an earlier government pledge made just days ago, when he announced the allocation of US$1,000,000 (one million U.S. dollars) as initial drought relief funding and urged all capable individuals and entities – both at home and abroad – to contribute with generosity and speed.
Partners wishing to contribute or pledge support are requested to contact the National Drought Response Committee immediately.
