Mogadishu, Somalia- The Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) has launched a fund to collect money for emergency aid to prevent and respond to floods that may occur due to spring rains.
The fund was announced at a meeting chaired by SoDMA’s Chairman, Md. Mohamud Macallin Abdulle, and attended by the country’s business leaders, including the chairman of the Somali Chamber of Commerce, Mohamud Abdikarin Ali Gabeyre, and the chairman of the country’s banking union.
According to a statement from SoDMA, the fund will receive a certain percentage of the money collected from the goods that go out and enter the country, as well as donations from the public. The fund will be managed by a committee composed of representatives from SoDMA, the business community, and other stakeholders.
The meeting also discussed the impact of the El-Niño floods that affected some regions at the end of 2023 and how SoDMA and other partners responded to them. The statement highlighted how the floods cut off the road connecting Mogadishu and Baidoa, especially in Wanlaweyn district, and how SoDMA worked to restore the road and provide relief to the affected people.
The business leaders welcomed the initiative and pledged to support SoDMA in its efforts to mitigate the risks of floods and other disasters. They also commended SoDMA for its role in coordinating and leading the disaster management activities in the country.
