Somalia: Top UN official pays trip to Puntland amid humanitarian crisis

GAROWE, Puntland - The President of Puntland State of Somalia, HE Said Abdullahi Deni, received a high-level delegation from the United Nations at the presidential palace in Garowe city on Monday, Garowe Online reports.

The deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, Adam Abdelmoula has held a meeting with President Deni and ministers, discussing a wide range of issues, including humanitarian, per statement.

“My visit to Puntland today [Monday] confirms what I have been discussing with other leaders in Somalia on the humanitarian, development and peace-building efforts, Abdelmoula tweeted.

The president praised the United Nations’ imperative work in Puntland and recommended that humanitarian operations be based on the needs of the local community who have been hit by floods and droughts.

The deputy UN envoy has applauded Puntland state for making significant development in the fields of infrastructure, governance, and security that became a good 'exemplary' progress to the rest of Somalia.

Deni reaffirmed that his government is committed to implementing the multi-party system in Puntland, whose foundations were laid down after he appointed last August an interim 9-member electoral commission.

The polls agency has launched this month the registration of the political parties as part of Deni-led efforts to hold one person, vote elections in Puntland in the coming years to realize the much-awaited dreams.

UN official’s trip comes weeks after cyclone Pawan made landfall and battered in parts of Puntland, triggering floods that swept away livestock, destroyed houses and cut off main roads in parts in coastal areas.

Tens of thousands of families who have been forced to leave their homes and locate to higher ground after flash floods resulted from heavy rains are currently in dire need of life-saving humanitarian relief.

GAROWE ONLINE