MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – The United Nations (UN) on Thursday estimated that 5.9 million people, which is about half of the population needs humanitarian help.
In a statement to mark World Humanitarian Day, the UN head of humanitarian affairs in Somalia Adam Abdelmoula said Somalia risks losing gains made in the past should donor funding fail to make through in time.
“Despite growing needs, the Humanitarian Response Plan is only funded at 40 per cent,” said Abdelmoula. “The cost of inaction will be devastating. Without additional support, the fragile gains we have made thus far will be easily unravelled.”
He called for concerted efforts to put in place the short-, medium- and long-term solutions to cushion the country from the perennial climatic shocks.
The United Nations on Thursday called on all parties in Somalia to protect humanitarian workers who provide life-saving assistance to vulnerable persons in the country.
Abdelmoula said 146 incidents impacting humanitarian operations have been recorded in Somalia since the start of 2021 and in the first seven months of 2021, one humanitarian worker was killed, five more injured, one abducted and three detained or temporarily arrested.
“Targeting humanitarian workers is an egregious violation of international humanitarian law and such attacks must never be tolerated. I implore all parties to do their part to ensure protection of all humanitarian workers as they continue to provide support to the most at-risk communities,” he said in a statement issued to mark the World Humanitarian Day which fell on Thursday.
This year’s World Humanitarian Day focuses on the climate crisis.
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