Somali president urges immediate international humanitarian action as drought escalates

By Mohammed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud implored the international community to help Wednesday with the ongoing drought response as Somalia prolonged drought conditions escalate.

Mohamud, who was elected May 15, visited internally displaced persons camps on the outskirts of Baidoa, one of the worst affected areas in the country.

"I am indeed saddened but I also pledged to take action," he wrote on Twitter after the visit.

He added that they will work with all partners to effectively address the drought.

Mohamud spoke directly to the international community and pleaded for immediate action to help save lives.

"The international community has been standing by the Somali people for the last 3 decades, now it's another time. We commit and willing and hope this might be the last time," he said.

Somalia is experiencing one of the worst droughts in 40 years and the UN raised the alarm Wednesday as it warned that 330,000 children in Somalia are at risk of dying from starvation.

"Mothers are already burying their children on the long treks they take to find treatment," the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) regional director for Eastern and Southern Africa said Wednesday.