Nairobi (Sunatimes) The office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for Somalia has on Tuesday said that the humanitarian community has provided a donation of $35 million for drought response, including access to food, water, health care, treatment of malnutrition and livelihoods support.

In it’s weekly bulletin, OCHA said that the failed seasonal short rains have increased the number of people who are in need of emergency relief due to crop failure and lack of water and pasture for livestock.

The response program was put in place during the months of January and February this year.

The UN has allocated a further $60 million which will partially be used to meet the immediate drought needs. The funds will be allocated on need basis in proportion to the number of people assessed as drought-affected by area.

The coordinator of humanitarian affairs has also called on all parties to Somalia’s conflicts to ensure that humanitarian access is granted to all communities in need.

OCHA has also reported that the ongoing conflict in different parts of the country have displaced thousands of people and caused the deaths of over a hundred. The bulletin mentioned the recent clashes in Mogadihsu, Beled Hawo, Belet Weyne and Buhudle where different groups involved in the conflict have been fighting.

By Fu'ad Elmi