Somalis Hold Special Prayers for Rain as Severe Drought Continues.
Thousands of Somalis gathered in the capital of Mogadishu to offer prayers to God Thursday to send down rains and end the country’s three-year drought, which has pushed it to the brink of famine.
Video Pleasure usapost.org In attendance were a large number of dignitaries, including Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre, senior government officials, several Muslim clerics, and the student community, Shabellenews reports.
The gathering, which was held at the Isbaheysiga Mosque, was also attended by citizens.
The Muslim clerics who led prayers called on Allah to send down rain on the Somali people affected by the drought while urging the public to turn to God, “repent,” and offer more prayers.
Poor rainfalls in the last three consecutive years in Somalia and much of the area around the Horn of Africa has led to a drastic drop of water levels in rivers, streams, and other bodies of water.
Meteorologists say the El Nino weather phenomenon, which has affected much of east and southern Africa, is partly responsible for Somalia’s current drought.
Somalia is one of four nations the UN considers to be at risk of extreme hunger and famine — along with Nigeria, South Sudan and Yemen.
The authorities have already declared a famine in South Sudan.
The BBC reports that in addition to the lack of food caused by the drought, cases of dehydration are widespread and deaths have been reported due to cholera, which is often spread due to lack of clean drinking water.