Somalia’s climate crisis caused by industrialized nations: Presidency

BAIDOA, Somalia

Somalia's climate crisis is a problem created by industrialized nations, Somali presidential spokesman Abdirashid Mohamed Hashi told Anadolu Agency on Friday.

"Frequent catastrophes caused by droughts and floods are caused by climate change which is also leading to a widespread gradual destruction in the country's environment,” he said. “We are not contributing to the crisis. It has been created by the industrialized countries."

He said the government is working on current drought relief.

"There is a ministerial-level committee working on the issue and the president of the Somali republic has donated his November and December salaries to a relief campaign," he said.

Regarding the opening Thursday of the Intergovernmental Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Centre of Excellence for Climate Adaptation and Environmental Protection (CAEP) in Mogadishu, he said it demonstrates that Somalia's security is now stable and strategically located geographically.

The center will make it easier to determine the causes of droughts and floods in the Horn of Africa country.

"The center will also create job opportunities that the country needs," he said.

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed launched the center with the presence of IGAD's Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu.

Somalia provided the initial requirements for the establishment of the center and set aside a strategically located facility.

The country is currently battling one of its worst climate change related droughts in decades, with the United Nations warning that more than 4.6 million people will face severe food insecurity in the coming months.

The government has already declared the drought a humanitarian state of emergency.