Boris Johnson lands in Somalia for surprise visit amid looming famine

Mogadishu (HOL) – British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson arrived in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Wednesday on a surprise visit.

Mr. Johnson met with Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo to discuss the worsening drought amid warnings from aid groups that Somalia is at risk of slipping into a famine.

Roughly 6 million people in the Horn of Africa nation – or half the population are facing serious food insecurity.
An overwhelmed and underfunded UN is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis as Sudan is in the midst of a full-blown famine and three other nations, including Somalia, Yemen and Northeast Nigeria are at a a credible risk of slipping into a famine.

In late February Britian pledged £100 million each in UK aid to  Somalia and South Sudan.

Just two days ago, The UK Government announced it will fund a £16 million programme to help avert famine in Somalia over the coming months. The emeregency funding will support more than 450 000 people with life-saving interventions and particularly food and water support.

Britain also announced on Wednesday that it would match “pound for pound” the first £5 million donated by the public to the Disasters Emergency Committee’s new East Africa Crisis Appeal.

After a recent visit to Somalia, UN humanitarian chief Stephen O’Brien said 2.9 million people in Somalia are at risk of famine and require immediate help “to save or sustain their lives”.

Source:Hiiraan online