The World Food Programme, in partnership with the Government of Ethiopia, has launched an emergency drought response plan to address the potential drought risk during the October-December 2018 rainy season in 15 districts of the Somali Region.

The implementation of the Emergency Drought Response was announced following the low rainfall in July and August 2017, indicating that drought events may occur in the future.

As a result, Boke, Galadi, Goro Bakaqsa, Guradamole, Hudet, and Raso districts were given priority and received financial support and animal feed coupons for various services.

However, due to ongoing funding shortages, the World Food Program has indicated that it will focus on 9,035 households in the two most vulnerable districts of Hudet and Galadi.

It was also noted that early warning messages will be broadcast in all 15 districts to strengthen community preparedness.

The implementation aims to protect human lives, ensure food security, and reduce animal mortality, and is said to be aimed at protecting vulnerable communities from the effects of drought with a $4.7 million grant from the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO).