Heartfelt plea to help ease famine

A WELSH Somali visiting East Africa has spoken of the horror of the worst drought in living memory gripping the region – and urged the people of Wales to give generously.

Eid Ali Ahmed is calling for help to address the crisis, as a series of fundraising events take place in Cardiff this weekend organised by the city’s Somali community.

Mr Ahmed, who came to Wales in the early 1990s and helped set up Wales Refugee Council, is in Somaliland, the self- declared republic neighbouring Somalia.

He is in the city of Hargeisa but has been travelling into rural areas where he has witnessed at first-hand the devastating impact of the drought.

“People are malnourished,” he said. “Animals are dead and dying, people have lost their livelihood and are coming to the city without jobs or food.

“It is the worst drought people here have seen in living memory and we need help from international agencies. We ask people from Wales to help.”

Fundraising events and a football league to raise money for drought appeals are being held this weekend in Cardiff.

A family and community fun day is being held at Butetown Pavilion from 1pm to 6pm tomorrow. The event will include a family football tournament, food, a BBQ, bouncy castle, henna art and face painting.

A fundraising community football match is also being held at Leckwith Stadium on Tuesday at 7.30pm and a charity car wash will also be held on Fridays outside the Paddle Steamer Cafe in Loudoun Square.

Money raised will go to the online Somaliland Drought Appeal, set up by Ali Abdi from Butetown, which is working with the Drought Committee in Somaliland.

Somaliland has had close links to Wales for more than a century, since sailors from the region first arrived at Tiger Bay’s port in the 19th century.

Climate change is thought to be to blame for the country suffering the worst drought in living memory.

More than 240,000 people are thought to be affected by the disaster which began after rain shortfalls going back to 2014 and 2015. Affected regions are food producing areas, adding to the lack of food and famine.

Failed rains have caused poor crops, acute shortage of water, and death of livestock.

Malnutrition is said to be worst among infants, small children, the elderly, sick and other vulnerable groups.

Mr Abdi said: “We are working closely with the Drought Committee in Somaliland and a team of dedicated volunteers who are on the ground and ready to help, but need additional support and financial contribution to get emergency supplies to those in desperate need.

“Somaliland Drought Appeal Committee in Cardiff is made up of the diaspora community who have strong links to Somaliland and many have family members directly affected by the catastrophic conditions in Somaliland.”

To donate visit www.gofundme. com/SomalilandDroughtAppeal