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Somalia Aid
Coordination Body |
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SACB
DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE HUMANITARIAN AND SECURITY SITUATION IN SOMALIA’S
GEDO REGION
The Somalia Aid Coordination Body (SACB), comprising
non-governmental organizations, UN agencies and donor governments, is deeply
concerned about the deteriorating situation in Somalia’s Northern Gedo
region. In recent days there has been
an upsurge in violent fighting, which has caused death, injury and displacement
to many Somalis and is seriously impairing the delivery of urgently needed
humanitarian assistance to thousands of people in increasingly desperate
need.
The SACB strongly condemns the assassination of Nur Mohamed
Yusuf, a senior local staff member of an international NGO who was killed on 11
April as a result of the current fighting, and the deaths of other innocent
civilians caught in crossfire.
Of
particular concern are reports of the increasing movement of arms in Gedo
region, indicating that preparation for further fighting is ongoing. The SACB calls upon the warring parties in
Gedo to desist from the fighting, so that humanitarian access to the area,
presently lost, is regained. Without the reestablishment of this
humanitarian access many more people could die.
Gedo region
has been acutely affected by three consecutive years of crop failure,
compounded by continued insecurity. The
population is extremely vulnerable and relies heavily on food aid for
survival. The current violence has
caused thousands of people to flee their homes, exacerbating an already
difficult situation.
The SACB is compelled to note that those in authority in
Gedo region have an obligation under international humanitarian law to look
after the welfare of the people under their control, and are obliged to ensure
humanitarian access, security of humanitarian workers, as well as the
protection of humanitarian supplies and the beneficiaries themselves.
The SACB expects that local authorities, businesses and
others who play an active role in the affairs of Somalia’s southern regions
will recognize their moral and legal responsibilities to those whose lives
depend so desperately upon timely and appropriate humanitarian assistance.
Finally, the SACB supports and encourages
peace initiatives that seek to sustain and build upon humanitarian relief
assistance and calls for an increase of peace building efforts in this region.
For more information,
please contact:
Maura Barry, SACB
Secretariat, Tel: (254 2) 448434,
Fax: (254 2) 442438