Expanding Humanitarian Aid where it is most needed Support from Somali communities
I last wrote to you in January of this year to share my thoughts, hopes and plans for2009. In that letter I mentioned that despite the challenges ahead, we must work together if we are to better address the needs ofthe Somalipeople.Today i write to update you on what I believe to be our most pressing priorities so far this year. I also write to stress the need for us to work together if we are to provide for those who desperately require our help.
Clear challenges are ahead for the Somali people and the humanitarian community in 2009. Most urgent is the problem you now face in getting enough water to live. April ought to be the month that brings Somalia relief from the long Jilaal dry season. Instead the rains are poor and the forecast is not good. I am aware of the strain and pressure that the harsh dry conditions are putting on every household and want to assure you that we are trying to do more water trucking to meet your needs, but of course, this is not an ideal solution.
This is the fourth year in a row of drought-like conditions in Somalia and many families have been forced to sell their herds or have watched them die due to drought. Dealing with this problem wiJl require more than an immediate emergency solution and we are therefore working on longer lasting solutions, such as building water pipelines, repairing boreholes and building and repairing berkads.
At this time, Somalia needs better job creation increased support to livelihoods. We aim to do this through increasing projects such as cash for work, support to agriculture and the building of dams. I hope that these activities will help to reduce the effect of future dry seasons as well as help prevent natural disasters such as floods which have sadly had a major impact following serious drought.
The Somalia Diaspora is an essential part of addressing Somalia's humanitarian social development needs. In many cases they can provide a level of support that we in the international community cannot. The current global economic 'crunch' is already affecting the level of support the Diaspora can give. It is therefore a very high priority for the UN system to see how we can better help the Diaspora in their efforts.
Improvements over the last few months have made it a little easier to deliver assistance. For example, there are fewer roadblocks and targeted attacks against aid workers have decreased. This is an opportunity we must take advantage of. We are also actively taking steps to enlarge the reach ofaid delivery where it is most needed, meeting with community leaders and elders to secure partnerships and guarantees for security ofaid groups.
Unfortunately, there are still areas where many humanitarians are unable to provide support because of safety concerns. Our ability to deliver assistance to populations where and when they need it has been severely limited by lack of security on the ground. This is particularly true in parts of South and Central regions and in Mogadishu. In these areas the humanitarian community is committed to provide assistance but can not operate due to safety concerns. This week two doctors from Medecins Sans Frontieres were abducted. Two weeks ago two Somali aid workers were killed. Already in 2009 three WFP colleagues have been murdered. There are now 18 aid workers in captivity preventing us from moving back as quickly and as certainly as we would like.
To be able to operate we rely on the backing of community leaders, elders and the people to help ensure the security and safety of humanitarian staff. We must all recognize that reestablishing programmes is a gradual and time-consuming process that can be speeded up with your guarantees for the safety and security of all those involved in providing assistance. I therefore call for the backing of the Somali people to help create conditions under which humanitarians can work. As UN HC I reiterate the commitment of the UN humanitarian system to continue working in Somalia and to increase our support in light of the deepening crises that affects us all.
Mark Bowden Nairobi
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