Somalia has not had a powerful government for close to two decades and most of Somali regions are out of its hand. In addition to that Somalia is one of the poorest countries in Africa and in the world and sufferers from climate change.
At the moment, there is a big conference on climate change in Copenhagen, Denmark. Somalia joined the efforts in Copenhagen at ministry level in order to be part the upcoming decisions on the conference.
The National Association of Somali Science and Environmental Journalists (NASSEJ) would like to welcome the announcement by the Somali Transitional Federal Government that it needs to become a party to the signed members on the declaration of environment protection on 09th December, 2009.
However, in 2007 the climate was particularly harsh in Somalia: First, the heavy rains in parts caused flooding in central Somalia as well as droughts in other parts caused a lot of problems that affected the people and the animals. But the rainy season itself was a disappointment, and water shortage made it impossible to replenish the reservoirs. Cereal production in 2009 is at 30% of the average for the last decade.
Secondly, clashes between Islamist-led insurgents and Somalia government along with AMISOM forces made many Somalis flee their homes and some displaced persons in camps are victims of the December 2004 tsunami who lost their fishing boats and came to inland towns hoping for help. Their villages and communities were almost 5,000 kilometres from the epicentre of the earthquake that caused the tsunami, and yet they were not spared.
Anyhow, Somali Minister of Environment Mr. Buri'e Mohamed Hamza is now pressent at COP15 meeting in Denmark and stated that Somalia government wishes to do a lot of environment protection in the years ahead.
NASSEJ is working to protect the Somalia environment and would like to inform the climate and environmental health campaigners to solve the ongoing environmental crisis in Somalia.
For further information contact:
National Association of Somali Science and Environmental Journalists (NASSEJ)
26 June street/Telex Street, Tahlil Warsame Building, KM4 Area in Hodan District, Mogadishu, Somalia.
Tel: +2521-5531-800 / +2521-284357
Email: newsletter@nassej.org
Website: www.nassej.org
