Somalia’s federal authorities and international partners launched a plan requiring more than a $1 billion to provide much-needed humanitarian aid to some three million Somalis this year.
“As we launch this plan, we must reflect on the nature of the humanitarian crises that Somalia continues to suffer. Just a couple of months ago, more than half a million people were affected by floods that inundated large areas of the country – while most of those who were affected have returned home, many continue to struggle to rebuild their lives,” the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Adam Abdelmoula, said at the launch in the capital, Mogadishu.
Also attending the launch of the $1.03 billion Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for 2020 was Somalia’s Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hamza Said Hamza.
“This plan demonstrates the commitment of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management of the Federal Government of Somalia, our coordination partner, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the international community to the people of Somalia,” he said.
“The humanitarian crisis in Somalia was exacerbated by conflict, prolonged droughts and, of course, the fatal flooding as witnessed recently in 2019,” the minister added.
Delayed and erratic Gu rains were already affecting various parts of the country when severe flooding struck late last year. The country has now been hit by the worst locust infestation in 25 years, and there are concerns that the Giilal dry season may lead to water shortages, decrease food stocks, and reduce crop production.
The HRP will provide life-saving aid and livelihood support to three million people, including the 1. 7 million people displaced by conflict, insecurity, forced evictions, droughts and floods. The aid will be in the form of monthly food assistance to 2.1 million people; support for access to education for more than 300,000 children; health assistance for 2.5 million0 people; and the delivery of safe water to more than 1.2 million people. It also seeks to address conflict-related protection concerns including the risk of gender-based violence.
Recovery and resilience
In his comments at the launch, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator noted that while the HRP is implemented, the world body and its partners are also working to ensure that emergency and development assistance complement each other in line with the Federal Government of Somalia’s development plan in order to achieve long-term recovery and resilience.
“Humanitarian interventions will alleviate short-term needs, but we must focus on the underlying development challenges as well,” Mr. Abdelmoula said.
