MOGADISHU — The Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) Commissioner, Mahamud Moalim Abdulle, affirmed today that Somalia has successfully transitioned from foundational planning discussions to establishing robust, highly functional disaster response mechanisms across the country.
Building Institutional Frameworks
Addressing the nation’s evolving disaster management strategy, Commissioner Abdulle underscored the critical necessity of enhanced institutional frameworks. He pointed out that Somalia continuously confronts numerous overlapping obstacles, including prolonged regional droughts, localized security conflicts, and escalating climate effects.
The Commissioner strongly stressed that postponing disaster interventions is no longer an option, as delays inevitably result in devastating humanitarian and economic repercussions. Because the nation grapples daily with these severe disruptions, he noted that the losses stemming from reactive disaster responses are impossible to overlook, highlighting the urgency of the proactive strategies recently formalized at the National Conference on Disaster Strategy.
The SRSP and International Cooperation
Commissioner Abdulle further announced that the recently implemented National Disaster Management Policy has officially acknowledged the Social Disaster Response System (SRSP) as an integral, permanent element of Somalia’s overarching national disaster response structure.
During his address, he conveyed deep gratitude to key international collaborators who made this policy integration possible. He specifically thanked the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), building on historic bilateral cooperation talks, and the World Food Programme (WFP), which recently joined forces with the Somali government on broader climate resilience initiatives. Both organizations provided vital technical and financial assistance in enabling Somalia to develop and reinforce this new system.
Channeling Future Support
To ensure long-term sustainability, the Commissioner concluded his address by urging international partners to direct all future support directly through the National Disaster Risk Management Fund (National DRM Fund). He noted that centralizing resources through this specific financial vehicle would significantly enhance national capabilities, ensure transparent resource allocation, and decisively boost Somalia’s sovereign effectiveness in managing future humanitarian crises.
