UNITED NATIONS, Apr 11 (APP): Continuing his tradition of carrying out solidarity visits to Muslim countries during the Holy Month of Ramazan, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Tuesday landed in Somalia, where he underlined the need for international engagement to alleviate the country\u2019s dire humanitarian situation and aid with state-building efforts.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am also here to ring the alarm on the need of massive international support, because of the humanitarian difficulties the country is facing, massive humanitarian support in relation to the build-up of a security capacity of Somalia, and massive humanitarian support in stabilisation and development of the country,\u201d he said in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. <\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough Somalis make virtually no contribution to climate change, the Somalis are among the greatest victims.?Nearly five million people are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity.? <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd of course, rising prices make matters worse.?So, I call on donors and I call on the international community to step up their support,\u201d Guterres added. <\/p>\n
The UN chief made the comments at a joint press encounter with Somalia\u2019s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at Villa Somalia, the federal government\u2019s premises, soon after landing in Mogadishu, according to a press release issued at UN Headquarters in New York. He last visited Somalia six years ago. <\/p>\n
Later on Tuesday, accompanied by the Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Adam Abdelmoula, who also serves as his Deputy Special Representative for the country, the Secretary-General met some of the Somalis affected by the country\u2019s humanitarian crisis during a visit to a camp for internally displaced people in Baidoa, the largest city in Somalia\u2019s South West State. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn the Holy Month of Ramazan,\u201d he said, \u201cwe need to have generosity from the international community that is absolutely crucial to rescue these people that I’ve seen in this camp, and that live in such dramatic circumstances.\u201d <\/p>\n
Currently, nearly half of?Somalia\u2019s population \u2013?8.25 million people \u2013 need lifesaving humanitarian and protection assistance due to climate shocks, which include five consecutive years of poor rainy seasons, and protracted conflict, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). <\/p>\n
Of those, some 3.8 million are internally displaced, and nearly five million people are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity. Around?1.8 million children are severely malnourished, and eight million people lack access to adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene. Two-thirds of all people in drought-affected areas have no access to essential healthcare. <\/p>\n
The 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan to meet Somalia\u2019s needs requires $2.6 billion to assist 7.6 million people \u2013 but its funding stands at around 15 per cent, so far. <\/p>\n
At the earlier joint media encounter in Mogadishu, the UN chief called on the international community to \u201curgently fund\u201d the Plan. <\/p>\n
\u201cSomali people deserve the solidarity of the international community, and deserve it to prevent malnutrition and displacement, to save lives, to avert famine,\u201d he said.? <\/p>\n
Prior to the press encounter, the Secretary-General met the President and some member of his cabinet and advisors to discuss other matters, including wider state-building goals, along with his Deputy Special Representative for Somalia, Anita Kiki Gbeho, who also serves as the Officer-in-Charge on the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM). <\/p>\n
\u201cThe President and I discussed the government\u2019s valuable efforts to tackle terrorism and advance peace and security for everyone, and we underlined the importance of an ever-stronger collaboration between the Federal Government and [Federal Member] States,\u201d Guterres said. <\/p>\n
?\u201cFederal and [Federal Member] State authorities can count on our support for further advanced state-building,\u201d he continued, \u201cand we are particularly encouraged by the recent agreement that was established in relation to the different matters of power sharing.\u201d? <\/p>\n
The UN chief also called on the international community to step up support beyond the humanitarian sphere, to help Somalis \u201cbe able to launch a new process of stabilization and development in the country and to build up its capacities to fight Al-Shabaab with even more efficiency than in the recent past.\u201d? <\/p>\n
Over recent months, Somalia\u2019s security forces, reinforced by local militias, have conducted military operations against Al-Shabaab in the Federal Member States of Hirshabelle and Galmudug, and operations are expected to gradually move into other areas of Somalia. <\/p>\n
Also on Tuesday, the UN chief met representatives of Somali civil society organisations working in areas such as women\u2019s affairs and empowerment, climate change, persons with disabilities, youth and marginalized groups to hear first-hand about their work and how the world body can support them. <\/p>\n
Later that evening with members of the Federal Government and representatives of the international community, he attended an Iftar. <\/p>\n
The UN chief began his tradition of paying solidarity visits \u2013 which include him fasting too \u2013 during Ramazan while he was the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, before taking up the UN\u2019s top job in 2017. He has previously said that joining Muslims fasting during Ramazan has, over the years, showed to him \u201cthe true face of Islam.\u201d <\/p>\n
At his press encounter in Mogadishu today, he noted that Somalia embodies Ramazan\u2019s \u201ctimeless message of renewal and hope.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cIn these challenging times, I want to commend your energy and resilience and reiterate the United Nations\u2019 unwavering support,\u201d Guterres said. \u201cWe stand in solidarity with the Somali people and the Somali Government – for peace, for security and for sustainable development.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UNITED NATIONS, Apr 11 (APP): Continuing his tradition of carrying out solidarity visits to Muslim countries during the Holy Month of Ramazan, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Tuesday landed in Somalia, where he underlined the need for international engagement to alleviate the country\u2019s dire humanitarian situation […]<\/p>\n
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