By HAN News Desk
BELEM – Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama has revealed that more than 70 percent of the Somali population has been officially classified as living in poverty, underscoring the scale of the economic and humanitarian challenges facing the country.
Mr. Jama made the remarks while addressing the United Nations Climate Change Conference currently taking place in Belém, Brazil, where he highlighted the link between climate change, poverty, and insecurity in Somalia.
“The latest data shows that over 70 percent of our people are living in poverty,” he said. “This is not only a matter of economic hardship but also a reflection of how deeply climate change and conflict have affected livelihoods across our nation.”
The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that recurrent droughts, floods, and desertification have devastated agricultural and pastoral communities, forcing thousands of families to migrate in search of food, water, and safety.
He called on the international community to support Somalia’s efforts to adapt to climate shocks, build resilience among vulnerable populations, and invest in sustainable development programs that can reduce dependency on humanitarian aid.
Somalia remains one of the countries most severely affected by climate change, despite contributing very little to global greenhouse gas emissions. The government has been appealing for increased global assistance to help communities recover from years of environmental degradation, conflict, and displacement.
