Somali Magazine -Mohammed Abdiker, the Regional Director for the East and Horn of Africa for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), met with members of the African-Canadian diaspora on Friday in Ottawa to discuss ways that the IOM can better communicate with the diaspora communities about developments in Africa.
The International Organization for Migration’s efforts in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda are under the direction of Abdiker.
The director provided an update on the current drought and migrant crises in the Horn of Africa for the attendees, who included leaders in civil society and non-profit organisations.
How diaspora organisations should exert pressure on the Canadian government to provide greater aid to the East and Horn of Africa crises was one of the main topics of discussion.
The summit takes place while Somalia continues to be in danger of going hungry due to a severe drought that has forced over a million people from their homes.
According to the UN’s climate projections, La Nia conditions will continue, probably leading to an unprecedented sixth failed rainy season from October to November.