As government commits to countrywide reforestation efforts during world environment day 2014
By: Yusuf M Hasan
ODWEINE (Somalilandsun) – Thousands of people and their livestock’s are faced with a locust’s induced soon to be hunger in parts of Dadmadhedh region of Somaliland.
This was revealed by the Dadmadhedh regional ministry of Environment and Rural development coordinator Abdikhadar Odowaa during a press briefing in which he appealed for help in checking the ongoing influx and prolonged presence of massive swarms of locusts in Haahi district.
As he informed on the destruction meted on farms where entire seasons production and grazing pastures are being wiped out the regional Coordinator Odowaa who appealed to the central government and other stakeholders both local and international based in Somaliland, said that unless action is taken the residents of Haahi shall join the hungry and displaced categories very soon.
Despite various measures by the ministry of agriculture locusts have similarly to Haahi, meted and are still doings so now to many areas of Somaliland where residents are facing an uncertain near future.
in a symbolic show of the government’s acknowledgement of the plight of rural residents, official functions marking the 2014 world environment day which is commemorate annually on 5th June were held at the Digale settlement in the southern outskirts of Hargeisa city.
During her address to participants the Somaliland 1st lady Amina Haji Mohamed Jirde ‘Amina Weris’ who was guest of honour urged a self instilled environment protection principle among citizens, while informing that the government of president Silanyo was committed to enhancing the prevalence of an environment capable of sustaining livestock and crops, the two main components of livelihoods in the country.
Asking community support for the government’s 2014-2015 plan to re-afforest the country the minister Shukri Haji Bandare of Environment and rural development said her ministry shall implement the planting of 100, 000 tree seedlings countrywide which can only be achieved with partnership of government, traditional leaders and communities.
Apart from Minister Shukri Haji Bandare other senior government officials accompanying first lady Amina Weris at the World Environment Day 2014 commemoration activities included the minister of Education Ms Zamzam Abdi Aden , the deputy health minister Ms Nimo Hussein Qawdan and minister of environment and rural development Director General Mohamed Farah Hirsi among others
