Humanitarian aid and security concerns dominate Somalia partners' trip to Baidoa

BAIDOA, Somalia - The current humanitarian situation and security concerns in Somalia dominated the trip by international partners to Baidoa, the regional administrative capital of Southwest, as the country struggles to contain setbacks that have left millions of people exposed.

Special representative of the UN James Swan noted that the community is satisfied with political progress in the state, which recently formed district councils, a sign of commitment to expedite service delivery to locals within the region.

“On the political front, we welcomed the South West State Administration’s continued efforts to strengthen local governance, and we are encouraged by the just-concluded formation of a District Council in Huddur," Swan said. "We hope that this sets an example for other such district council endeavors."

“We stressed the importance of ensuring that people are accorded the space to express themselves freely, including freedom of assembly, organization, and media, as the people of South West State debate key issues on the public agenda,” Mr. Swan added.

For mutual cooperation, the team noted, an improved relationship between the federal member states and the central government was paramount, adding that stability was key to the country. The current President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has been promoting a relationship between the two entities.

“In this respect,” he said, “we renewed our call for a collaborative relationship between South West State and the Federal Government, and welcome the President’s attendance at the recently-concluded meeting of the National Consultative Council in Mogadishu.”

The UN representative noted that the country was struggling to contain hunger, adding that over 1.4 million people in the Southwest are facing a shortage of food. He asked members of the international community to intervene immediately.

Al-Shabaab's heightened activities in Southwest, he noted, have negatively impacted the economic stability and livelihoods of people in South West State, leading to a chronic humanitarian situation and large-scale population displacements.

​​“Somalia’s international partners are seriously concerned about the difficult humanitarian situation affecting South West State’s residents and those who have arrived from elsewhere due to displacement caused by the drought,” Mr. Swan said. “We are wholeheartedly committed to continuing to support South West State as it faces this immense challenge.”

Although the international community has been responding to the current situation, the team says, there was a need for more donations to the affected population. The UN is also calling for a scaling-up of assistance required to address worsening humanitarian conditions and rising needs.

In regard to security matters, the UN Special Representative said they remain a key priority in South West State, and that the international partners had commended the president for his continued commitment to degrade Al-Shabaab in all three of the Federal Member State’s regions.

“We also re-affirmed our commitment to continue working closely with South West State’s security establishment in taking on the challenge. In that vein, we urge even closer cooperation among international and local security actors,” Mr. Swan said.

In recent months, the Somali National Army and allies have been conducting operations against the Al-Shabaab militants who control large swathes of rural central and southern Somalia. The teams have managed to topple the militants from strategic towns across the country.

GAROWE ONLINE