Somalia calls for regional outlook to peace, stability
Mogadishu, Aug 21, 2013 (SDN) – A mid-year review done on the improvement of the humanitarian situation in Somalia shows that country’s crisis remains one of the largest and most complex in the world. The review carried out under the “Consolidated Appeal report for 2013 to 2015 indicates that the humanitarian situation has improved in the first half of 2013.
The number of food-insecure people is reduced, largely due to a good amount of rainfall and the delivery of assistance in more areas of the country.
It however warns that a shortfall in funding jeopardizes efforts to build Somalis’ resilience to shocks.
The report also suggests that the scope of the humanitarian needs in Somalia remains vast. it shows one million people still require aid to meet their basic needs and a further 1.7 million who recently emerged from crisis could fall back into crisis without sustained support.
During an official visit to Ethiopia, Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud
stressed that the role of neighboring countries in helping it acquire a more stable situation.
President Mohamoud pointed out that instability in other countries in the region is a threat to Somali’s security as well.
Conflicts that Somalia maybe wary of include the one between Sudan and South Sudan both of which are members of the Inter governmental Agency for development or IGAD. IGAD is a regional force whose combined support Somali is highly dependent on. There is also the ongoing fighting between M23 rebels and the government of Democratic republic of Congo, which from time to time diverts the attention of the IGAD member states.
Currently, Somalia, which is enjoying relative peace, is operating under a federal system of government based on what it terms a six-pillar plan. A top priority of this plan, which is still at an infancy stage, is building the country’s security force.
Heads of State and Government of the Troop Contributing Countries to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), in August 2013, gave the federal government of Somalia the control of the Kismayo seaport and airport. This calls for more of its vigilance.
Somalia is carefully calculating its steps towards achieving total normalcy as far as security is concerned. Mogadishu is well aware that even if it normalizes its internal security but the conflicts in its neighboring countries continue, then the possibility of it getting full regional support to recover fully from problems like insurgency, hunger, poverty and displacement, may take longer than anticipated.
Source: presstv