For Immediate Release
Thursday, May 25, 2023
Today the United States, through the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID), the
British Embassy in Mogadishu, and the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD)
announced the launch of a $10.5 million drought assistance and resilience
program through the Building Resilient Communities in Somalia (BRCiS)
consortium. The trilateral partnership builds upon famine prevention and
resilience investments made by USAID, UKAID, and QFFD in 2021/22 and will enable
BRCiS to sustain lifesaving service delivery while accelerating recovery
efforts over the next six months.
Severe drought, compounded by conflict, in Somalia has left 6.6 million
people severely food
insecure. Since January 2022, more than 3 million people have been displaced
and mortality rates have surpassed those in 2017. An estimated 43,000 deaths
have already occurred - half of which were among children under five. Without
continued support, more than half a million children under the age of five are
at risk of severe malnourishment and death this year.
Mike Nithavrianakis, British Ambassador to Somalia said: “The situation in
Somalia remains critical.We applaud our partners’ sustained delivery of
humanitarian assistance which helped to avert nationwide famine this year. This
is significant, but humanitarian aid alone cannot address the crisis. That is
why the UK is reinforcing BRCiS’ response through continued collaboration with
the U.S. and Qatar.”
The tripartite collaboration will for the first time combine investments
from the UK, U.S., and Qatar under one program, BRCiS. This will ensure the
continued delivery of emergency cash assistance to purchase food and
multi-sector humanitarian assistance alongside resilience activities to ensure communities
are protected and empowered.
Perrine Piton, BRCiS Chief of Party said: “These contributions will save
lives. The funds will enable us to reinforce market-based systems that drive
supply and demand initiatives while ensuring 41,000 people receive emergency
food assistance (multi-purpose cash), 330,000 individuals have access to clean
water, sanitation, and hygiene materials, and 175,000 people are provided with
lifesaving health and nutrition services.”
“BRCiS will continue to support the Somali people in their
communities," said U.S. Ambassador Larry André. “Partnership – iskashi
– is at the heart of the work of the United States with Somalia. This extension
expands that partnership with the UK and Qatar to build on past success.”
His Excellency Dr. Abdullah bin Salim Al-Naimi, Ambassador of the State of
Qatar to Somalia, said: "The drought crisis has cast a shadow on the
already worsening humanitarian situation in Somalia due to the coronavirus
pandemic. This affected millions and has increased the threat of famine, displacement,
food insecurity, and severe malnutrition among children, which imposes on
everyone without exception. Providing humanitarian and relief support would
alleviate millions affected by humanitarian conditions, helping them to
withstand these complex situations further, and working to save lives, which is
primarily a human duty.”