NY September 24, 2023 (SD) – The Prime Minister of Somalia, Hassan Abdi Barre, has once again stated that Somalia is among the countries most affected by climate change, despite its minimal contribution to global carbon emissions.

Speaking at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, Barre emphasized that Somalia has suffered from recurrent droughts and floods in recent years, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of people and displacing millions more.

Somalia’s carbon footprint, in terms of air pollution, is only 0.03%. However, its population bears the brunt of the consequences of climate change.

Prime Minister Barre called on the international community to support Somalia in addressing the immediate impacts of climate change and in building resilience to climate-related challenges.

This year, drought has affected more than four million people in Somalia, causing the largest displacement of the population since the 2011 famine. The situation has been exacerbated by the fact that the country experienced one of the heaviest floods in decades after the Shabelle River burst its banks in the Hiraan region, displacing hundreds of thousands of people. This crisis comes just four years after the country faced its deadliest drought in over four decades.

Humanitarian agencies have warned that the climate crisis is the most significant driver of acute crises, impacting the lives and livelihoods of the Somali people. It is imperative that concerted efforts are made to address climate change and its impacts, as Somalia continues to face significant challenges.