London(Mogadishu24)-The British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, announced on Monday that the UK government will provide £100 million ($125 million) to support Somalia, to prevent future crises and develop key areas, including water and agriculture, in order to address the threats of climate change.

This announcement came at a time when the Somali President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, is in London, where he is co-chaired the Global Food Security Summit alongside the UK Prime Minister.

“Our work with the government of Somalia helped them avert famine last year, and now I’m pleased to announce that we will help Somalia avoid crises with up to £100M future support. This funding will enable thousands of communities to manage water supply, adapt their farming practices, and increase resilience to droughts, floods, and other climate changes,” said Rishi Sunak, the British Prime Minister.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud applauded the UK government’s commitment of £100 million in aid, stating that it is a crucial step in promoting global collaboration.

The President addressed the impacts of climate change in Somalia, highlighting its contribution to food insecurity by destroying agricultural lands, livestock, and fishing.

President Mohamud also emphasized the adverse effects of last year’s droughts on Somalia’s production sector and economic growth. He pointed out the impacts of El Niño floods in the country, which resulted in 53 fatalities and affected more than 1.7 million people, including over 600,000 displacements.

The Global Food Security Summit, co-hosted by the UK government, Somalia, and the United Arab Emirates, attracted representatives from more than 20 countries. The summit aimed to discuss the threats of food insecurity and propose solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition.