Special Humanitarian Envoy visits Somalia

(Nairobi and New York: 1 May 2006): The United Nations Special Humanitarian Envoy, Kjell Magne Bondevik, arrived in Somalia today, the fifth stop in his tour of drought-affected countries in the Horn of Africa. He travelled to Baidoa and Wajid with donors, media and UN representatives.
In Baidoa, the Special Envoy met Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi and Parliamentary Speaker Sharif Hassan Shaykh Aden. Mr. Bondevik appreciated the Transitional Federal Government's achievements to date; but underscored the need for their cooperation in improving security and access to enable the humanitarian community to deliver aid to the people of Somalia. The Prime Minister noted that the Government welcomed the assistance of the United Nations and of the international community and indicated his support for a gradually increased UN presence in the country, acknowledging that this would require improved security and access. The Special Envoy concurred on the desirability of an increased presence, security permitting, and observed that the aid community had made efforts to increase their presence, especially in south Somalia. He also urged donors to be flexible and to support the aid community in increasing their operational capacity with a view to being able to carry out longer term programs.

Mr. Bondevik informed the Prime Minister that his main role is raising funds to address the crisis, as well as raising awareness of the humanitarian situation.

Joined by the Prime Minister, the Special Envoy travelled to Wajid, where he visited a therapeutic feeding centre run by the non-governmental organisation Action Contre la Faim, which opened in mid-March due to malnutrition rates above the emergency threshold of 15%. The centre had admitted 145 children since 9 March, of whom six had died. The Special Envoy also addressed a class of children at a school established by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) at a site housing internally displaced persons. At the site, the Envoy said that he was touched by the "deplorable conditions" that people were living in.

The Special Envoy afterwards visited a village 30 kilometres south of Wajid, where he met aid organisations. Although there has been rain in the area, he noted that emergency assistance is still required, as well as longer term rehabilitation and development.

On Tuesday, the final day of his eight day mission, he will meet with donors, NGOs and regional partners in Kenya, including the UN Country Team for Kenya and the Inter Agency Standing Committee for Somalia.

Somalia is experiencing the consequences of the worst drought in over ten years. Somalia has endured fifteen years of armed conflict and generalised violence, which have resulted in widespread human rights abuses, the destruction of public infrastructure, and the disintegration of basic health and social The United Nations launched a regional appeal for the Horn of Africa earlier this month, requesting US $443 million to support the urgent needs of more than eight million people. To date, the Appeal has received pledges and contributions of US$95 million. The number of people targeted for humanitarian assistance in Somalia in 2006 has more than doubled from 1 to 2.1 million people.

For further information contact Kirsten Mildren, OCHA-Ethiopia who will accompany Mr. Bondevik to each location, +251 11 544 4162, +251 91 164 1031 (mobile), +88 216 4333 9018 (sat phone); Amanda Di Lorenzo, OCHA-Somalia, +254 20 375 4150, +254 734 21 0102 (mobile) +88 216 5112 4142 (sat phone) ; Luluwa Ali, OCHA-Nairobi, +254 20 762 1004, +254 733 73 0535 (mobile); Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 1526, +1 917 892 1679 (mobile); Elizabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, +41 79 473 4570 (mobile).