Somalia faces humanitarian crisis in 2010 with aid coffers empty, UN warns
8 December 2009 – Highlighting recent progress in efforts to achieve nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged nations to build on the momentum, laying out a number of steps to move the process forward.
Speaking at a meeting in New York focusing on his five-point action plan to rid the world of nuclear weapons, Mr. Ban cited “encouraging” developments over recent months, including the renewed commitment by the leaders of the United States and Russia, a breakthrough in the Conference on Disarmament, and the “historic” Security Council summit in September.
“We need to sustain this momentum, and build on it,” he stated, noting that the review conference for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), to be held in May 2010, is just a few months away. “Now is the time.”
The Secretary-General’s action plan, presented in October 2008, begins with a call for the parties to the NPT to pursue negotiations on nuclear disarmament, either through a new convention or through a series of mutually reinforcing instruments backed by a credible system of verification.
In addition, it is based on the following key principles: that disarmament must enhance security; be reliably verified; be rooted in legal obligations; be visible to the public; and must anticipate emerging dangers from other weapons.
“My Action Plan on Nuclear Disarmament and Nuclear Non-proliferation is founded on a fundamental principle: nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation are mutually reinforcing and inseparable,” Mr. Ban stated. “They should be pursued in tandem.”
To build on recent momentum and “move the ball forward,” Mr. Ban urged States to facilitate the adoption of agreed measures on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, and encouraged them to consider the proposal by Costa Rica and Malaysia for a nuclear weapon convention.
Second, noting that the Security Council Summit should not be a one-time event, he encouraged the 15-member body to meet annually, at the Foreign Minister level, to discuss nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament.
“The Council’s nuclear-weapon States might also wish to consider the adoption of a joint declaration for the 2010 NPT Review Conference addressing nuclear disarmament issues,” he suggested.
He also called for greater efforts to advance the rule of law in the field of disarmament, and to enhance transparency and accountability. Lastly, he called for complementary measures while pursuing nuclear disarmament.
“The world should pursue several related measures, including eliminating others weapons of mass destruction; combating WMD [weapons of mass destruction] terrorism; and bans on missiles, space weapons. We also must not lose sight of conventional weapons disarmament.”
In addition, he encouraged Member States to consider convening a session of the General Assembly to examine the impact of armed violence on development at next September’s summit meeting on the set of anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).8 December 2009 – War-torn and drought-ravaged Somalia is facing a humanitarian crisis with no funding so far raised or pledged for next year for food, water, sanitation, health and other vital needs and the potential that the situation could spill over into a major regional crisis for its neighbours, senior United Nations officials warned today.
“The main message that we have is that the potential humanitarian funding crisis is life-threatening, it threatens a large proportion of the population,” UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Mark Bowden told a news briefing in New York, noting that UN agencies are going into a new humanitarian funding cycle with no carry-over finances,
“The consequences of not addressing the situation in Somalia is that we could expect more displacement into other parts of the region putting a great deal more stress on Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya at a time when they can’t afford to support them either.”
The agencies are talking to donors, some of whom are concerned about the effectiveness of aid in a country torn apart by factional fighting and without a functioning central government since 1991, or worried that humanitarian supplies could fall into the hands of terrorists, but so far nothing has been concluded.
“Time is precious… so if we don’t resolve this soon, the humanitarian consequences are very, very serious indeed,” he added. “Time is running out.”
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) also took up the issue of donors’ concerns, stressing that the feeling that aid can barely do anything in Somalia is misplaced.
It is important to remember that the country has been polio free since 2007 and this year has immunized 1.5 million children – 85 per cent of those under five – as well as 1 million women, 65 per cent of those of child bearing age against tetanus, said UNICEF country representative Rozanne Chorlton.
“So Somalia on track to be measles- and tetanus-free,” Ms. Chorlton told the briefing, underscoring the need to keep up this level of activity. “Really big things can happen in Somalia in terms of humanitarian service delivery, in terms of saving lives. If we fail to get at least $12 million for the first quarter of next year, people will die, children will die.”
Overall, the humanitarian sector is seeking $689 million for the whole of next year. Mr. Bowden said, noting that over the past year the number of people in need of assistance on a regular basis had risen from 3.17 million to 3.64 million, well over half the total population, while 1.18 million face an acute crisis of food and livelihood insecurity. Some 1.55 million are displaced, “almost the world’s largest displacement,” he added.
He cited slow decision making in donor countries, a global downturn in humanitarian assistance, donor fatigue and the fear of aid falling into the hands of extremists among the reasons for the funding crisis. For 2009 humanitarian agencies received only about half of the $900 million sought for the year, thus allowing no carry-over for 2010.
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