Jowhar, HirShabelle – An advance delegation has arrived in Jowhar, the capital of HirShabelle State, ahead of the Country Humanitarian Forum (CHF 2025) scheduled to open on November 10. The forum will bring together representatives from the Federal Government, HirShabelle authorities, humanitarian agencies, and civil society to discuss coordinated responses to the region’s worsening humanitarian situation.
Jowhar, often seen as a humanitarian hub in central Somalia, is already preparing to host delegates who will examine ways to improve planning, resource allocation, and partnerships between aid organizations and government institutions. This year’s forum is expected to place special emphasis on community resilience, early warning systems, and the integration of local knowledge into humanitarian planning.
The arriving delegation includes technical and logistical experts responsible for finalizing preparations, ensuring that all necessary arrangements are in place for the high-level discussions. Their early presence in the city underscores the importance of effective coordination, particularly at a time when humanitarian needs across HirShabelle remain acute.
HirShabelle has faced repeated cycles of floods and droughts that have displaced thousands of families, destroyed livelihoods, and strained already fragile infrastructure. Rising river levels from Ethiopia’s highlands continue to threaten low-lying communities along the Shabelle River, while poor road access hampers aid delivery to isolated villages.
The Country Humanitarian Forum will aim to strengthen collaboration between local authorities and international partners to ensure that humanitarian action is more timely, inclusive, and sustainable. It will also provide a space to review progress made under the national humanitarian strategy and identify priorities for 2025.
For the people of HirShabelle, hosting CHF 2025 is more than a regional event—it is an opportunity to highlight the urgent realities facing riverine communities and to push for a stronger commitment to long-term recovery and development. As Jowhar prepares to welcome participants, there is a shared sense of hope that the forum will help chart a more coordinated and people-centered path for humanitarian action in Somalia.