Press Conference by UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia

 

Somalia is one of the most complicated humanitarian situations in the world, yet the United Nations has made significant achievements there to date, said Mark Bowden, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia.

During the noon briefing at United Nations Headquarters, Mr. Bowden said that one of the things that struck him was that the country has been kept polio-free, even though there has been a resurgence of the disease in other African nations.  That was because 1.3 million people had been the beneficiaries of clean water, child health days, and vaccination campaigns, even in areas occupied by insurgents.  Also, 1.8 million people had received some kind of food assistance.

Somalia was recovering from five years of drought, and while there had been some flooding, none of it had been major, he explained, adding that “We are coming out of what has been a very difficult cycle of drought”, but there was still an acute crisis in the country, including increased impoverishment and malnutrition.  One in five people faced severe malnutrition and many families had lost livestock.  In addition, 3.2 million people, or 40 per cent of the population, relied on food assistance.

Displacement was another huge issue, he said, noting that the conflict had produced 1.2 million internally displaced persons, resulting in what he described as some of the most difficult conditions he had ever seen in his 20 years of humanitarian experience.  In fact, Somalia generated the highest number of displaced persons in the world.  Almost 595,000 people lived as refugees in neighbouring countries, including Kenya, Yemen and Ethiopia.  And, an estimated 200,000 people had been displaced since January, mainly from Mogadishu.

Indeed, civilians bore the brunt of the conflict in Mogadishu, where they were affected by the extensive shelling and mortar fire, he said.  Since March alone, there had been more than 3,000 conflict-related casualties.  The shelling exacerbated the problems of displacement, as the population was caught between the inter-rebel fighting and the conflict in Mogadishu, with nowhere to find a secure environment.  In the past six months, medical clinics serving the displaced population had been occupied by militias and hospitals were hit by shells.  In response, the United Nations had trained up 800 medical staff, in emergency and trauma surgery.  Food rations and feeding programmes in Mogadishu were increasing.

Bowden stressed the need for the parties to find a peaceful means to ending the conflict, and while conflict might now be unavoidable, the key was to avoid the collateral damage to civilians.

While there had been considerable achievements in funding, the amount had decreased this year, he said, adding, “My major concern at this time of the year, is that there is a renewed emphasis on ensuring we do address the funding gaps in Somalia to help us to sustain the achievements that can continue to be made in one of the world’s most difficult, and acute humanitarian crisis.”  He highlighted the funding gaps, for example in the health sector, and in water and sanitation for internally displaced persons, which was “seriously under-funded”.

To questions from a journalist regarding the last panel of experts’ report, which the journalist said contained allegations of aid being diverted to Al-Shabab, Mr. Bowden said that, “We always take allegations very seriously.”  He added that the United Nations was operating in one of the most difficult working environments, which had a long-established war economy.  Before that report had been issued, there was a serious risk process introduced for the entire United Nations system.  That system allowed for greater transparency over the procurement processes and implementing partners.  It also allowed for due diligence to be taken forward, with proper assessment of all activities.

When asked how many individuals or companies were on a “blacklist”, he said that “we don’t wish to be seen as operating a blacklist”, but that the database tracked as many as 500 contractual relationships, though the report mentioned three contractors specifically.

He told journalists that part of the conflict was resource-driven and that there were local grievances, but that, “We have to better address the longer-time drivers”, and come up with the right kind of political model to provide stability.  However, “we consistently take too short of a perspective of Somalia”, working for years to try to find a fix rather than a longer-term perspective.  There was much more to be done on the development side.  There were many rural development opportunities in Somalia, as there was stability in large parts of the countryside.

He drew correspondents’ attention to an upcoming consultative process over the next few months on the Constitution.

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For information media • not an official record