UN official urges action on ongoing terrorist threats, humanitarian crisis in Somalia
Date
6/25/2024 8:00:43 AM
(MENAFN) James Swan, serving as both head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) and the acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, underscored the severity of ongoing terrorist threats and the urgent humanitarian crisis in Somalia during a session of the UN Security Council on Monday. Swan called on the international community to urgently provide necessary funding to address the dire situation.
He emphasized that the Somali government has made security and countering Al-Shabaab militants a top priority, despite the group's persistent and indiscriminate terrorist attacks that result in civilian casualties. Swan condemned these attacks and extended condolences to the families affected by the violence.
Regarding the humanitarian situation, Swan highlighted that over 3.8 million people in Somalia are currently displaced due to a combination of factors including conflict, extreme weather events, insecurity, and disease outbreaks. These challenges have significantly increased the demand for life-saving assistance.
Swan stressed the critical importance of investing in long-term resilience-building efforts for communities, infrastructure, and the economy to mitigate these ongoing challenges effectively. He pointed out that the 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Somalia requires USD1.6 billion but is currently only 24 percent funded. This funding shortfall severely limits the ability to provide essential humanitarian aid and support adaptation measures against climate change impacts.
"At the current rate, the impact of climate change is outpacing our ability to support adaptation and humanitarian response," Swan cautioned, underscoring the urgent need for international partners to step up their financial support to address these pressing humanitarian needs in Somalia.
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