Somalia is likely to lose more than $500 million after the COVID-19 pandemic affected the annual Hajj celebrations in Saudi Arabia.
Each year, the Horn of Africa country exports millions of livestock to feed around 2 million pilgrims who gather in Mecca from different parts of the world.
However, this year the situation is likely to change drastically after many governments and nations banned international flights.
Saudi authorities have cancelled this year’s Hajj festivities owing to the novel coronavirus. The authorities have only allowed a few locals to attend Hajj.
Consequently, tens of thousands of Somalis are likely to lose their livelihoods.
Each year, the East African nation earns between $250 million and $300 million from exporting livestock to Saudi Arabia for Hajj.
Livestock remains Somalia’s primary economic activity. The livestock industry in Somalia is worth over $1 billion.