UN agencies seek 530milllion USD for crisis in Somalia

[Coeus]

The UN agencies on Wednesday launched Somalia 2011 Humanitarian Appeal, seeking 530 million U.S. dollars to cope with the Horn of Africa's nation's ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The appeal for Somalia which was launched in Nairobi with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres and UN Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator for Somalia Mark Bowden seeks 530 million dollars for 229 projects from 15 UN agencies and 90 international and national non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to respond to the most urgent humanitarian needs in Somalia.

"The priority in 2011 is to ensure that humanitarian assistance gets to those who need it, wherever they are. Even with all the challenges of access and security in Somalia, we know it can be done because we managed in 2010," Bowden said during the launch. "We are counting on our partnerships with Somali agencies, direct interaction with beneficiaries, and early and predictable funding."

According to the appeal, the La Nina dry weather phenomenon is particularly worrying.

Even in conditions of growing insecurity, the humanitarian community has continued to maintain its operations during 2010 and delivered assistance wherever access is possible. "This ensured that nearly 2 million people received some sort of food assistance and clean water, malnutrition was treated through nearly 1,000 sites, non-food items were provided for 200,000 newly displaced, and 2.3 million animals were vaccinated to protect livestock and help pastoralists recover from several years of drought," the CAP 2011 says.

Bowden said the year 2011 is an opportunity to consolidate the fragile livelihood gains made in 2010 in order to protect vulnerable populations at risk.

Despite a fragile improvement in 2010 resulting from two good successive rainy seasons, Somalia continues to face immense humanitarian needs.

Two million people in crisis, including 1.46 million displaced people, are testament that the twenty-year humanitarian catastrophe in Somalia continues and is as urgent as ever.

Floods, drought and conflict frequently disrupt coping strategies and livelihoods, and access to health care, clean water, education, emergency shelter, and food are regular challenges for Somalis in crisis.

The requirements in the 2011 Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP) have been pared down to the most essential, with 23 per cent less requested than in the 2010 CAP.

This is the result of a reassessment of the food aid requirements and a revised estimate of target populations and the scale of rations required.

This reduction is also the result of improved coordination structures and rigorous project vetting.

In 2010, the CAP strategic priorities are to provide those who need help the most with life-saving assistance, a basic package of social services and livelihoods support, and to enhance the protection of civilians.

Expanding humanitarian access, which is a major challenge, is a key part of the 2011 CAP strategy.

While humanitarian funding has now reached a level of 69 percent of CAP requirements for 2010, slow and imbalanced funding has been a concern throughout the year.

As of Nov. 30, the UN says Somalia 2010 CAP has received 409 million dollars out of the 596 million dollars requested.

Of the funding, 178 million dollars is carry-over from 2009. Imbalanced funding across clusters has been a particular concern, with life-saving sectors such as Health and Water and Sanitation having received only half of their requirements, most in the second half of the year, and the Emergency Shelter is only 11 per cent funded even at this point in the year.

Overall, the donors have generously supported the Somalia operation and followed up with funding when the humanitarian community requested it.

The global Consolidated Appeal was launched on Nov. 30 in Geneva by the Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and the Under- Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Valerie Amos.

Some 7.4 billion dollars total is being sought jointly by aid agencies to meet the most pressing needs of 58 million people worldwide.

[Monk-of-Mogadishu]

90% will be stolen, 5% will be usurped by the TFG, 5% will go to vain development projects in Puntland, the remaining margins will go to otherwise needy people in the worst parts of government-controlled territory.