JAKARTA – Nearly 100,000 Somalis facing severe drought conditions will receive emergency food assistance from Saudi Arabia through a humanitarian initiative coordinated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief).

Aid Targets Vulnerable Communities

Mahamud Ma’alin Abdulle, who leads Somalia’s National Disaster Management Authority (SoDMA), announced that the relief supplies have arrived and distribution plans are underway to ensure swift delivery to those in greatest need.

“Up to 100,000 individuals requiring urgent nutritional support will benefit from this assistance,” Ma’alin stated, adding that priority areas include regions experiencing the most severe drought impacts.

Multi-Phase Relief Effort

According to Yazid Abdalla Hamoud, who directs KSRelief’s operations across Africa, this initial delivery represents the opening stage of Saudi humanitarian engagement in Somalia, with additional shipments planned through 2026.

Responding to Widespread Crisis

The emergency intervention comes following SoDMA’s drought warning issued on November 10, which highlighted the crisis affecting approximately 5 million Somalis nationwide. The prolonged dry conditions have created urgent food security challenges across multiple regions.

The Saudi-backed relief effort aims to provide immediate nutritional support while distribution mechanisms ensure resources reach the most vulnerable populations experiencing drought-related hardships.

Original Article:

Dawan Africa. (2025, December 2). Saudi Arabia Donates Food Aid To Drought-Hit Somalia. Retrieved from https://www.dawan.africa/news/saudi-arabia-donates-food-aid-to-drought-hit-somalia