Residents of the communities in western Kismayo city, Somalia have received the first cash transfer of $70 each to 250 vulnerable houses as support against the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an initiative that addresses youths and urban regeneration in the East African nation, 250 households will each receive a total of $210 over a period of three months that will benefit over 2,000 people indirectly.
According to Falastin Omar, programme manager, UN-Habitat Somalia, “The COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted Somalia’s economic recovery and the government shutdowns have impacted the most vulnerable communities including urban communities in one of its largest cities, Kismayo, whose dwellers are the main targets of this intervention.”
The communities in the west of Kismayo were excluded from the 2019-2020 relief support because of excess flooding in the riverine areas along the Juba River.
In a statement made available to Financial Street, Ibrahim Mohamed Yusuf, the Mayor of Kismayo said, “The intervention is timely because in addition to the loss of livelihood from the pandemic, the economic impact was worsened by the prolonged drought and severe climatic changes.”
The COVID-19 response initiative funded by the Government of Sweden aims to promote sustainable urban development, youth development and re-integration of marginalised groups.
