German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel yesterday pledged to double Berlin’s aid to drought-stricken Somalia, warning of a “humanitarian catastrophe” in the country where more than 6mn people are facing food insecurity.

Germany has already pledged aid worth 70mn euros ($76mn), Gabriel said after arriving yesterday in Mogadishu under strict security measures.“We are ready to at least double that,” he said.

Gabriel’s visit had not been announced beforehand because of security concerns in the country where the radical Islamist group Shebaab regularly launches attacks.

The minister was due to meet displaced people and former Shebaab fighters during his visit.

This is the first visit by a German minister to the Horn of Africa country since 2012.

Source: Gulf times