UN Urges Sustained Aid Delivery To Support Millions Of Somalis In Need

The UN humanitarian agency said on Monday humanitarian assistance needs to be sustained in Somalia to support the 5.4 million people who are still in need.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in its latest report, said food security continues to improve as livestock production has increased substantially.

“However, they have also continued to grapple with a number of challenges, including ensuring the safety of personnel, assets, and facilities,” said OCHA.

According to the Famine Early Warning System Network, continued conflict and subsequent displacement have disrupted livelihoods and access to key sources of food and income in Somalia.

The UN agency said more funding is required, as the humanitarian situation remains fragile due to the residual impact of drought, displacements, conflict, and marginalization.

“By mid-August, the Somalia Humanitarian Response Plan had received 563 million U.S. dollars. Combined with the approximate 167 million dollars received outside the plan, the Somali operation has received 730 million dollars in total,” it said.

OCHA said there is restricted humanitarian access in some parts of south and central parts of the Horn of Africa nation.

“Forced evictions inhibit the ability of partners to improve living conditions in sites, and low levels of community participation inhibit the cluster’s ability to improve beneficiary targeting to include marginalized populations,” said OCHA.