United Nations and Government of Ethiopia agree on implementation modalities for Somali regional state

(Addis Ababa - 18 October, 2007): The United Nations has agreed with the Government of Ethiopia on several implementation modalities to ensure that much needed emergency relief food, medicines and other assistance to Somali Regional State reach those who are in need.

The UN and Ethiopia's Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Agency will establish joint Support Centers in the most affected areas of the region as soon as possible to facilitate the logistics of bringing relief food, medicine, veterinary services and livelihoods support. The government and the UN have agreed to provide additional coordination and logistics support through offices to be setup in Dire Dawa. The Ethiopian Government has also indicated that it is making its best efforts to work jointly with the UN to ensure that all relief food and other necessities going into the region are properly monitored so that aid reaches those who most require assistance.

"The Ethiopian Government has assured the UN that humanitarian activities within Somali region will be unrestricted," said Fidele Sarassoro, UN Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Representative. "These developments are very good news for the people of the region. We applaud the excellent collaboration we have seen thus far."

Additionally, the Government of Ethiopia has offered to re-establish an immediate commercial air link to Kebridehar and Shilabo which will further facilitate joint Government/UN operations.

For further information, please contact: Fidele Sarassoro, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, +251 11-551-10-25, e-mail- fidele.sarassoro@undp.org; Paul Hebert, Head of Office and Deputy to the Humanitarian Coordinator, UN OCHA, +251 11-544-42-48, e-mail- hebert@un.org; Gregory Beals, Senior Information Officer, UNOCHA, + 251 11-544-41-86/56, e-mail beals@un.org.