UN Special Representative Asks International Community for Strong Response to Needs of Somali Flood Victims

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Nairobi, 21 November - The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Francois Lonseny Fall, today asked the international community to respond generously to the needs of Somali communities affected by rising flood waters.

“During my mission to Baidoa yesterday, the President and Prime Minister expressed concern that too little relief was reaching people in dire need,” he said. “It was also clear to me flying over northern Kenya and southern Somalia yesterday that the extent of flooding is beyond anything seen in Somalia in many years. In the past six weeks, most parts of the country have already received more than 300 percent of their normal rainfall. WFP, UNICEF, WHO and non governmental organizations are delivering food relief, shelter materials and other emergency support, but more will be needed. In southern Somalia, about 1.1 million are already facing a humanitarian emergency and the official rainy season has several weeks to run.”

Ambassador Fall flew to Baidoa on Monday to emphasize the need for Somalia’s Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) to remain united. He sought assurances from President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed and Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi that they were committed to the unity of the TFIs and a resumption of dialogue with the Union of Islamic Courts following the postponement of the third round of the Khartoum peace talks early this month.

“The President and Prime Minister gave me those assurances,” he said. “They also told me they would welcome the Speaker, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden, back in Baidoa in spite of his recent initiative to visit Mogadishu for discussions with the Courts, without their agreement or that of the Transitional Federal Parliament. I was encouraged by the day’s discussions.”

Ambassador Fall was accompanied to Baidoa by several representatives from the International Advisory Contact Group for Somalia which was set up earlier this year to assist the peace process.

While in Baidoa, Ambassador Fall held private meetings with the President and Prime Minister and addressed the parliament. He told the parliament that the strength of the TFIs depended on their unity and he urged them to return to peace negotiations with the Courts in Khartoum as soon as possible. He stressed however that a conducive, well prepared and constructive process, was more important that the date at this stage.

“The technical committees comprising members of the TFIs and UIC must first sit together and agree on a path to peace,” he said. “Both parties agreed to do this at Khartoum II and should now follow through on their agreements.”

This morning, Ambassador Fall also briefed representatives of the international community based in Nairobi, on his mission to Baidoa.

For more information please contact: UN Political Office for Somalia(Nairobi, Kenya) Tel. +254 20 762 21 31 Please visit: www.UN-Somalia.org.