Security Council urges comprehensive strategy to tackle Somalia's crises
14 December 2011 -
The Security Council today
<
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2011/sc10479.doc.htm> welcomed last
week's landmark visit to Somalia by <
http://www.un.org/sg/>
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and stressed the need for a comprehensive
strategy to address the political, security and humanitarian challenges in
the country through collaborative efforts.
After hearing from Mr. Ban, who visited the Horn of Africa country on
Friday, the Council pointed out in a press statement that the consequences
of the problems in Somalia include terrorism, piracy and hostage-taking.
Members of the Council reiterated their full support of Mr. Ban's efforts
and those of his Special Representative Augustine P. Mahiga, in
collaboration with the African Union (AU) and other international and
regional partners, to address Somalia's challenges, including through the
upcoming conference on Somalia in London early next year.
I have urged the Government of Kenya, AMISOM and the TFG to uphold the right
of civilians, refugees and Somalis asylum-seekers.
The Council, in the statement read by Ambassador Vitaly Churkin of Russia,
which holds the Council's presidency for this month, also welcomed Secretary
General's announcement that the United Nations Political Office for Somalia
( <
http://unpos.unmissions.org/> UNPOS) will relocate to Mogadishu next
month.
It called for faster implementation of the roadmap of key tasks and
priorities to be completed by Somalia's Transitional Federal Institutions
(TFIs) before the current transitional arrangement ends in August next year,
while recognizing the need for international support to facilitate the
process.
Members of the Council said the future support to the TFIs will be
contingent on the completion of tasks stipulated in the roadmap and took
note of the Secretary General's view that further extension of the roadmap
would be untenable.
The Council commended the efforts of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and
Somali security forces in their military campaign against insurgents of the
Al Shabaab group, and recognized their significant sacrifices.
The UN body reiterated its grave concern over the food crisis in Somalia and
welcomed the international response and the tireless efforts of the relief
workers. It urged Member States to contribute to the UN consolidated appeal
for Somalia, and appealed to all parties and armed groups to ensure full,
safe and unhindered access for the timely delivery of humanitarian
assistance.
Earlier, Mr. Ban
<
http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocus/sgspeeches/statments_full.asp?statID=14
18> told the Council that the withdrawal of insurgents from Somalia's
capital, Mogadishu, and their retreat from other areas under pressure from
the national armed forces supported by Kenyan and Ethiopian troops presents
an opportunity for the international community help stabilize the country.
"We must ensure that the military strategy is aligned with political
objectives," Mr. Ban told the Council. "As more territory is liberated, the
TFG [Transitional Federal Government] must strengthen its outreach to the
local population and form new regional entities in line with the
Transitional Federal Charter.
"On the military front, we must not exclude the incorporation of new forces
and the expansion of AMISOM." He said a joint AU-UN joint assessment was
under way and its proposal will be presented to the Council.
Mr. Ban echoed the appeal by AU and countries contributing troops to AMISOM
for the Council's reconsideration of financial and logistical arrangements
for supporting the African mission's operations in the next phase.
"We must also boost our efforts to safeguard civilians and the safety of the
relief supply route. I have urged the Government of Kenya, AMISOM and the
TFG to uphold the right of civilians, refugees and Somalis asylum-seekers,"
he said.
The Secretary-General stressed the importance of AMISOM being able to deploy
beyond Mogadishu, which requires that the force be brought to its full
strength of 12,000 troops. The force also needs to be provided with the
necessary equipment, including such air assets as helicopters, and military
engineering capabilities.
He said that he had also requested the UN country team to work more closely
with UNPOS to support the TFG's efforts in governance, recovery, development
and capacity-building.
"For all of this to be possible, we must expedite arrangements for
protecting UN and AMISOM civilian personnel," he said, renewing his appeal
for support for a UN Recovery and Stabilization Plan for Somalia.
Meanwhile, UN agencies and their humanitarian partners today requested $1.5
billion to fund the continuing relief effort in Somalia, where an estimated
four million people remain in need of basic necessities, including food,
water, shelter and health services.
"With the humanitarian situation expected to remain critical well into next
year, early and full funding is essential," said Mark Bowden, the UN
Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, at the launch of the 2012 consolidated
appeal for the country in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
"The Somalia crisis is everybody's responsibility and Somalis need support
now. We cannot afford to wait or we will let down the Somali people."
Tens of thousands of Somalis have died this year as a result of drought and
famine, which were exacerbated by conflict. Almost 300,000 people sought
succour in neighbouring Kenya and Ethiopia.
Funding requirements for this year, 80 per cent of which have been received
so far, made it possible for aid workers to reach hundreds of thousands of
people in areas ravaged by the food crisis. Within three months of famine
being declared in July, the number of people receiving food tripled to 2.6
million and almost half a million malnourished children received nutrition
supplements. The number of areas affected by famine dropped from six to
three in mid-November.
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Received on Wed Dec 14 2011 - 17:11:18 EST