(29-10-23) JOWHAR — A tripartite meeting between the Somali federal government, Hirshabelle state, and representatives from various United Nations agencies was held on Sunday in Jowhar to discuss key development and environmental issues.
The meeting was chaired by Hirshabelle President Ali Gudlawe Hussein at the presidential palace. Ahmed Madobe Nuunow, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, represented the federal government, and various UN agencies including FAO, IOM, UN-Habitat, UNIDO, and UNEP were also in attendance.
High on the agenda was the Jowhar Dam project (JOSP), a strategic initiative aimed at addressing flood management in the Shabelle River and supplying water during drought periods. The project is viewed as critical for improving the agricultural infrastructure in Hirshabelle, where much of the arable land remains underutilised.
The timing of the meeting is particularly significant given looming concerns about potential El Nino conditions, which could dramatically affect the Shabelle River’s flow. The federal government has already issued warnings about the climate phenomenon’s likely impact.
The meeting represented a coordinated effort to enhance not only the region’s development but also its resilience against climate-related challenges and thereby holds significant implications for the country’s economic stability.
Halqabsi News
