“We must now move beyond the limits of aviation as we know it,” Salazar told delegates, noting that while the industry showed “remarkable resilience” during the recent Middle East crises, operational flexibility alone cannot solve the underlying security threat.
Three steps to safety
To avoid a catastrophic incident, the Secretary-General urged Member States to take three priority actions:
- Rapid intelligence sharing: Communicate threats to civil aircraft in real time.
- Stronger risk assessment: Improve timely decision-making for airspace closure.
- Civil-military coordination: Improve communication to avoid misidentification of civilian targets.
ICAO is currently finalizing a global crisis management framework and updating safety manuals to help airlines navigate increasingly militarized skies.
Salazar reminded the international community that, according to the Chicago Convention, the use of weapons against civil aircraft is strictly prohibited.
Drought causes three out of four new displacements in Somalia
The worsening climate crisis in Somalia has uprooted nearly 62,000 people since the beginning of the year, with drought now responsible for the vast majority of new displacements.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Friday, drought-related displacements have increased by 22 percent compared to last year.
Even if the upcoming rainy season is largely beneficial, experts project that another 125,000 people could be forced from their homes in June as water sources dry up and livestock die.
A mother and daughter at the Rabi Yasir camp for internally displaced people in Mogadishu, Somalia. .
“When water disappears, crops fail and livelihoods collapse, displacement becomes a last resort,” said Manuel Pereira, IOM Chief of Mission in Somalia.
He warned that without swift action, the crisis will continue to uproot communities and deepen a growing hunger crisis.
Urban centers under pressure
As herding and farming families lose their livestock and crops, they turn to towns and cities in search of food and water.
However, these urban areas are struggling to cope with the influx. Many families are ending up in overcrowded informal settlements with little access to clean water or toilets, increasing the risk of disease.
While IOM is providing emergency shelter and vital supplies through its rapid support teams, the agency warns that the scale of the crisis is outstripping available resources.
Beyond immediate aid, IOM is calling for long-term investments in water infrastructure to help Somalis remain on their land and withstand future climate crises.
Solar irrigation project increases food security in drought-prone Ethiopia
The World Food Program (WFP) and the Government of Ethiopia have launched a solar-powered irrigation scheme in the Somali region, aimed at helping pastoralist communities withstand intensifying climate crises.
Located in Gode, the project is part of the “IFTIIN” initiative, which means “light” or “hope” in Somali, and is funded by Germany through the KfW Development Bank.
The scheme draws water from the Shebelle River, enabling year-round farming in an area traditionally reliant on unreliable rainfall.
“WFP’s vision in Ethiopia is to support the government’s shift towards resilient and self-sufficient food systems,” said Zlatan Milišić, WFP Country Director. He noted that the project allows communities to “absorb climate impacts and reduce long-term dependence on humanitarian assistance.”
A serious drought is taking hold in the Somali region of Ethiopia (file).
Investment in local resilience
The initiative supports approximately 85,000 people across the region by integrating water infrastructure with economic support.
In addition to the construction of 17 irrigation systems and 13 livestock ponds, the project has installed 29 dikes to regenerate vegetation and protect against flooding.
To ensure long-term sustainability, farmers are being linked directly to traders and markets, helping to increase household incomes and improve access to basic financial services.
Between 2024 and 2025, local farmers at the Gode site earned almost $290,000 from their crops, demonstrating the potential of climate-smart solutions to transform food security in lowland areas.