UNHCR 'gives impetus' to Somali refugees' initiative, 21 August 2014

UNHCR 'gives impetus' to Somali refugees' initiative, 21 August 2014

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Wednesday launched an initiative to give impetus to its Global Initiative on Somali Refugees (GISR).

Launched in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, the new drive, titled the "Addis Ababa Commitment towards Somali Refugees," was launched during a meeting between UNHCR chief Antonio Guterres and government ministers from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Yemen, which together host nearly one million Somali refugees.

"We, as key stakeholders, express appreciation to the High Commissioner for having launched the GISR to catalyze fresh impetus for durable solutions for Somali refugees," read a statement issued after the meeting.

According to the statement, participants expressed gratitude to host countries "for the solidarity and hospitality extended to Somali refugees for decades."

It added: "We absolutely reaffirm our commitment to maintain asylum and international protection for Somali refugees and to intensify the search for durable solutions for them."

Guterres said the UNHCR was working with the international community to respond to the needs of Somali refugees.

"Refugee response in East Africa is severely underfunded," he said, adding that his agency would do everything possible to raise additional funding.

He went on to say that the UNHCR was "very strong in repatriating and supporting refugees."

Somalia has remained in the grip of political violence since the outbreak of civil war in 1991.

The troubled country recently appeared to inch closer to stability with the intervention of African Union troops tasked with combating Somalia's Al-Shabaab militant group.

According to UNCHR figures, more than 1.1 million Somalis remain internally displaced, while another one million live in neighboring countries.