Statement of the United Nations Special Representative for Somalia – Francois Lonseny Fall - at Launch of Consolidated Appeal Process for Somalia, in Nairobi - 14 December 2005

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Your Excellencey, Mr. Deputy Prime Minister, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am very pleased to be here today at this very important event which has been organized by Phillipe (Lazarini) and his colleagues. 

As you all know, Somalia has been devastated by a protracted civil war and persistent fragmented conflicts over the last two decades. This situation has been exacerbated by natural disasters, which have not only devastated public and private institutions but has also torn the socio-economic fabric of society and has contributed to grave humanitarian crises.

With the formation of the Transitional Federal Institutions and the beginning of their relocation back into Somalia, we now have an important opportunity to reverse the negative trends of the past.  I wish to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the work being done by the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, to restore peace and stability in Somalia and promote recovery, reconstruction and development in the country – neglected for so long.

I wish to assure you that the United Nations is committed to supporting all efforts and initiatives to facilitate genuine dialogue and reconciliation. While progress is being made internally towards dialogue, moving the political process forward will continue to require patience, persistence and perseverance on the part of all concerned. The success will also to a large degree depend on the strong, sustained and undivided support on the part of international community.

In addition to support for the political process, continued and sustained international support would also be needed for humanitarian assistance. As has been highlighted in the Joint Needs Assessment Retreat, recently, Somalia continues to face urgent humanitarian needs. During the JNA Retreat, Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi not only called for increased assistance for humanitarian activities in Somalia, but also stressed that such support should not wait the outcome of the recovery process. Today, I want to add my voice to his call by urging the international community not only to remain committed to humanitarian support in Somalia but also redouble its efforts in this regard. Meeting these humanitarian needs will ultimately provide a strong foundation from which recovery, reconstruction and development can develop in the future.

However, the most immediate challenge today in meeting these urgent humanitarian needs is access. Problems of access have been compounded by the unstable and unpredictable environment that those providing humanitarian support have to face inside Somalia, particularly in the South/Central region. These factors continue to adversely affect humanitarian support as well as the prospects of human survival in this region. To address these challenges the humanitarian community has to work with the Somali authorities, at all levels, to ensure that humanitarian access is provided to the most vulnerable populations. According to this year’s CAP estimates, one million Somalis are in need of urgent assistance and protection, mostly in the South/Central part of the country. I could not stress enough the need and the urgency to provide a safe operating space for humanitarian agencies to reach these people.

In addition, the independence and impartiality of humanitarian work must be respected by all actors at all times. Humanitarian assistance should not and must not be allowed to be held hostage to military, political or individual agendas. The killings of four Somali national aid workers in 2005 are blatant crimes which need to be condemned in the strongest terms. Measures must be taken to make sure there is no impunity for those who commit murder and an environment needs to be created to avoid its recurrence.

Another worrying trend is the unprecedented rise of piracy off Somalia’s coastline. Not only has this directly affected the provision of humanitarian assistance at times, it has also impacted on the availability of fuel in south Somalia, directly affecting the humanitarian flights into the area. I call on the Somali Transitional Federal Government and international community to find ways to provide better protection for the Somali coast and combat the scourge of piracy. I fear that attacks on shipping and hijacking of vessels, if allowed to continue unchecked, would have an adverse impact on the already dire humanitarian situation inside Somalia.

However, there are encouraging signs in several parts of Somalia where relative peace and stability have been achieved alongside unhindered access for the provision of humanitarian aid and protection. Such an environment allows for a better future and an improved quality of life for Somalia’s people. These positive trends need to be replicated throughout the country. In addition, the need to make progress in moving the political process forward remains vital not only for peace and security, recovery and reconstruction but also to ensure sustained provision of humanitarian support.

We know that the humanitarian challenges are enormous but we have the capacity to overcome them. What is required from all of us is to face these with an iron resolve and an unwavering commitment. I am confident that working together and with joint purpose we can succeed.

Thank you.