(Ecofin Agency) - The Somali government in collaboration with the UN has launched a Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) in Somalia. A joint appeal was launched to donors to raise $1.09 billion for this purpose.

According to humanitarian coordinator, Adam Abdelmoula who made the announcement on February 15th, the UN support seeks to ensure availability and access to basic services such as food, shelter, and health services. It targets 4 million people, including people displaced due to famine and conflict, host communities, refugees, and returnees, at a time when the number of people in need of assistance continues to grow.

Official statistis showed that in 2021, the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance in Somalia will increase from 5.2 million to 5.9 million people due to insecurity, climate, and health threats, particularly with the covid-19 crisis (with an estimated 5,273 infections for 154 deaths).

In terms of weather, Somalia, which had already experienced unpredictable climatic shocks, but also a locust invasion, must expect a drought wave during the year, due to low rainfall linked to the coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon called "La Niña".

“This 2021 response plan clearly emphasizes the Government’s position that humanitarian needs in Somalia cannot be addressed by the delivery of life-saving assistance alone and it highlights that there are opportunities for development actors to contribute to strengthened resilience of Somalis,” stressed Khadija Mohamed Diriye, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management.