Mogadishu (SONNA) – The Speaker of the Upper House of Parliament if the Federal Republic of Somalia, Senator Cabdi Xaashi Cabdullaahi, accompanied by the Second Deputy Speaker, Senator Cabdullaahi Cali Xirsi “Timacadde,” on Monday presided over the 14th session of the House’s 7th sitting.
The session’s agenda included the third reading of the National Payment System Bill and a briefing on the country’s drought situation delivered by the Chairman of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA).
At the outset, the Deputy Chairperson of the Upper House Finance Committee, Senator Ibraahim Awgab Cismaan, presented the report on the bill’s third reading, outlining how the committee incorporated views and recommendations previously submitted by senators. Following deliberations, the bill was put to a vote and passed by an overwhelming majority, with 28 senators voting in favor and no votes against or abstentions.
In the second agenda item, NDMA Chairman Mahmoud Moallim Abdulle delivered a detailed briefing on the worsening drought across the country, noting its severe impact on livelihoods, particularly in rural areas. He emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian assistance, prompting senators to question the scope of the crisis, the hardest-hit regions, and the agency’s preparedness for emergency response.
“The situation today is not normal, and the country is not in a normal state,” the NDMA chairman said. “Our people are suffering due to climate change and multiple compounding challenges. More than 4.7 million people are facing extremely severe drought conditions.”
The Upper House underscored the need for coordinated national and international efforts to address the humanitarian emergency as the drought continues to deepen.
