Message from the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia on the occasion of WORLD HUMANITARIAN DAY, 19 August 2010

Today is World Humanitarian Day. In 2008, the UN General Assembly decided that every year 19 August, the anniversary of the Canal Hotel bombing in Iraq when many aid workers lost their lives, would be marked as World Humanitarian Day. This day aims to increase public awareness about humanitarian assistance activities worldwide and to honour all humanitarian personnel, in particular those who have lost their lives in the cause of duty. Today millions of people around the world are taking a moment to remember the even more millions of people affected by war, natural disasters, sickness, and malnutrition and the humanitarian aid workers who help them.

I want to pay special tribute to the Somali humanitarian aid workers who are the heroes we celebrate this second World Humanitarian Day. These men and women have dedicated their lives in serving the millions of Somali people affected by both conflict and natural disasters.

Over the past year, working in the humanitarian field in Somalia has become ever more challenging. The ability to access populations in need is shrinking, particularly in south central regions where several aid agency offices being occupied, aid workers harassed and operations halting as a result. In January, the World Food Programme temporarily suspended its operations in south central Somalia while more recently International Medical Corps closed its operations. Earlier this month, operations of three aid organisations - World Vision International, ADRA and Diakonia - were banned in south central leading to the suspension of their activities.

Humanitarian aid workers strive to ensure that all those who need life-saving assistance receive it, regardless of where they are in the world, and regardless of their religion, race, politics, gender or social group. Aid workers have no agenda other than saving lives and delivering the basics of life - food, water, shelter, medical care, and protection for the most vulnerable. Somalia is one of far too many places in the world where humanitarian workers were once respected, and today are targeted. It is a place where we have seen our ability to reach populations shrink due to threats and insecurity, so that ensuring who gets assistance is at times determined by where we can reach, rather than where we ought to reach.

Despite these challenges, humanitarian aid workers in Somalia in 2010 ensured food aid was delivered to 340,000 people in Mogadishu, where many of the most vulnerable are located. Throughout Somalia, 1.8 million people have also received some form of food assistance in the first six months of the year. Access to education has increased through the construction of 153 classrooms, rehabilitation of 106 learning spaces and installation of 40 school tents. Since 2009, Child Health Days have reached 1.48 million children under age five and 1.28 million women of child-bearing age during at least one round. As a result, in these areas vaccination coverage doubled from 20% - 30% to over 70%. Somalia now meets the basic humanitarian standards for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition in emergencies, reaching 60% of all affected children - only two countries in East and Southern Africa region achieve such coverage rates. It is a testament to the perseverance, ingenuity and courage of humanitarian aid workers that the aid operation in Somalia is still on going.

The early and good rains during the most recent Gu season means Somalia in the near future is likely to see some immediate improvements in food security. This will go some way to relieve many communities who have suffered following failures of several rainy seasons in the past. However, Somalia has endured five consecutive seasons of drought and it will take more than one good rainy season and one good harvest to put it on the road to recovery. We must ensure that we discharge our responsibility to support the continuing needs of all drought-affected and conflict-affected people and communities. Planning for the 2011 Consolidated Appeal for Somalia is underway now and rest assured that it will address these issues. The humanitarian community in Somalia reaffirms its commitment to bring together international and national responses, and effectively deploy the diversity of skills and capacities from many partners for the good of Somalis. In doing so, we will continue to look for ways to streamline and better coordinate activities under demanding conditions in the coming year.

I would like to take this opportunity to renew my call to all parties to the conflict in Somalia to create an environment whereby aid can be delivered safely and effectively. On this day it is important to remind ourselves of the underlying principles of humanitarianism that we work to uphold: Humanity is the principle that suffering must be addressed wherever it is found. This is the principle that has brought humanitarian assistance to Somalia and keeps agencies motivated to deliver lifesaving assistance despite the challenges. Impartiality is the principle that humanitarian assistance must be given and prioritized solely on the basis of need. Humanitarian agencies can not discriminate on the basis of ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political opinion, race, or religion. Neutrality affirms that humanitarian assistance must be provided without engaging in hostilities or taking sides in controversies of a political, religious, or ideological nature. Operational Independence means that humanitarian action must be autonomous from political, economic, military or other objectives that any actor may hold with regard to areas where humanitarian action is being implemented. These are the principles that continue to guide the actions of humanitarian organisations and their personnel. .

As this day is meant honour humanitarian personnel, in particular those who have lost their lives, we also remember and pay tribute to the twelve humanitarian aid workers who have lost their lives in Somalia since the beginning of 2009, in the cause of duty. There are still ten abducted humanitarian workers who remain unaccounted for. I call on those responsible for their abduction to take responsibility for their action and release them so they can join their families.

Sincere regards,
Mark Bowden
UN Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator

For more information contact:

Dawn Elizabeth Blalock, Public Information Officer, +254-734-210-102 or blalock@un.org/
Muna Mohamed, Reports Officer, +254 733643737 or mohamed26@un.org
For more information on Somalia go to: www.ochaonline.un.org/somalia