Mogadishu residents led by Somali  clerics and the Prime Minister Hassan Khayre on Monday performed the Istisqa  rain  prayers seeking divine intervention as  drought  continued to claim more lives in the country. The prayers which followed four days of fasting were performed at the  Isbaheysi  Mosque  and was also attended by  Banaadir region Governor and  Ministers. “The President and I promise the Somali people that we will fight against corruption  and tribalism so as to avert further effects of the drought”  Khayre said. The drought was declared a national disaster a week ago by President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo and this followed an assessment tour by UN  Secretary General  Antonio Gutteres who called for the international community to act swiftly to avert a possible famine. Some 2.1 people are facing starvation in the country with Somalis starting local initiative under the call “ Caawi Walaal” or Help A brother to fundraise for food relief. An estimated 300 plus people have died of starvation in Somalia in the last three weeks.