By: Mo Ali/Medshi
Somaliland sun- The famine situation in Somaliland is alarming with thousands of animals as well as many herders dead.
The social media has exposed the lack of contingency plan in dealing with recurrent droughts in the country. The Somaliland government didn’t comment or act before the privately owned media exposed the extent of the famine in the eastern regions of Somaliland.
The government does not utilize the rainy seasons to reciprocate for the dry seasons . Rainy season rain waters end up in the seas directly or indirectly. Toghdeer dry river empties rain waters underground into the eastern coast seas through Puntland while rain water from the Golis Range mountains ends up in the Red Sea .
The government has truly failed to conserve these waters and prevent it ending up in the seas with all the topsoil it swept while in route. Sadly many floods through dry rivers that pass Aw Barkhadle and Dacar Budhuq dry rivers sweep away and kill many people during the rainy seasons. A water to be used for sustainable livelihood is let to kill the people that mostly needed it for survival.
Such is happening right now in my country due to poor management while thousands perish of famine.
Ironically $4 million has been released for the voter registration by the Somaliland government few weeks ago . This amount of money could have been utilised for saving lives and livestock for the Somaliland drought affected regions.
The government should realize that if the famine continues in the current trend without immediate relief respond soon , little voters will be left among the pastoralists.
How long do we have to see DABO DHEER famine again and again?
How long will it take us to look inward and adapt to our environment through development planning?
Attention Seeking (AT) leaders have destroyed our country since inception.
Perhaps it is about time for the youth – if any left after migration – to rise up and restore order.
In the mean time and instead of waiting for change of government, let us help our famine stricken people in the eastern regions of Somaliland through donations, volunteering and any other means available .
The author Mohamed Ali is a Briton of Somaliland origin and editor of www.medeshivalley.com
