Black Sea Grain Initiative’s withdrawal casts a shadow on Somalia’s drought battle
By Abdullahi Nur Osman, CEO, Hormuud Salaam Foundation
East Africa is facing its worst drought in 40 years, with millions forced to flee their homes. In Somalia, humanitarian aid from local and global sources is keeping families temporarily afloat and preventing outright famine. But we’re not in the clear yet.
Russia’s recent decision to back out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative is of grave concern. The initiative enabled 380,000 tonnes of essential grain exports from Ukraine could, despite the ongoing war, still reach crisis-hit countries like Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
In the words of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the initiative was delivering a “lifeline for global food security” and was a “beacon of hope in a troubled world.”
But this light of hope is now dimming for many Somalis, which relied on Ukraine for over 60% of its wheat imports. And with Russia’s promise of 25,000 to 50,000 tonnes of free grain not covering our immense needs, Somalia’s food security is at risk.
As the CEO of Somalia’s first corporate foundation, I’m already seeing the effects of this withdrawal on our most vulnerable communities. We work closely with both local and international organisations to reach our last-mile communities. With basics scarce and food prices soaring, the situation is increasingly dire.
We need urgent solutions to replace what we’ve lost with the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
As alternative routes are more expensive, the World Food Programme is exploring arranging for 200,000 tonnes of rice from India to help those in need — which will provide some short-term relief. Our Humanitarian Portal plays an essential role in this, allowing agencies to deliver cash aid directly to those living in rural areas and ultimately empowering at-risk Somalis to have the financial means to buy other foods beyond grain.
However, for a long-term solution, we need consistent collaborative action between the global community and local organisations to protect Somalia and other drought-stricken countries from the looming threat of famine. Otherwise, our communities will be at risk of famine for many years to come.
