NAIROBI – Somalia and Kenya have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation in disaster management and humanitarian response, officials said on Friday.
The agreement was signed in Nairobi between the Chairman of the Somali Disaster Management Authority (SoDMA), Mahmoud Moalim Abdulle, and the Secretary General of the Kenyan Red Cross Society (KRCS), Dr. Ahmed Idris.
The three-year agreement aims to enhance coordination between the two countries in disaster preparedness, early warning systems, and emergency response, particularly in border areas vulnerable to climate-related shocks and natural disasters.
According to officials, the partnership will also focus on improving risk analysis mechanisms, sharing information on climate change and emergencies, and strengthening joint planning for humanitarian crises.
The memorandum further outlines cooperation in training emergency response teams, pre-positioning relief supplies, and improving the capacity of disaster management personnel in both countries.
Authorities said the initiative is designed to speed up response times during emergencies and improve assistance to affected communities, especially in remote and cross-border regions.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Mahmoud Moalim Abdulle described the agreement as a significant step in strengthening bilateral cooperation and enhancing resilience against disasters affecting vulnerable populations.
Kenyan Red Cross officials said the partnership would help build stronger regional coordination and ensure more effective humanitarian response across shared risk zones.
Somalia and Kenya, which share a long border, have in recent years faced recurring climate-related challenges, including droughts, floods, and displacement linked to extreme weather events.
