UN Photo/Sourav Sarker   

Secretary-General António Guterres meets a family of internally displaced people at a camp in Baidoa in southwestern Somalia.

April 11, 2023   Humanitarian Aid

Continuing his tradition of carrying out solidarity visits to Muslim countries during the Holy Month of Ramadan, the United Nations chief today landed in Somalia, where he underlined the need for international engagement to alleviate the country’s dire humanitarian situation and aid with state-building efforts.

“I am also here to ring the alarm on the need of massive international support, because of the humanitarian difficulties the country is facing, massive humanitarian support in relation to the build-up of a security capacity of Somalia, and massive humanitarian support in stabilisation and development of the country,” Secretary-General António Guterres said in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. 

“Although Somalis make virtually no contribution to climate change, the Somalis are among the greatest victims. Nearly five million people are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity.  

“And of course, rising prices make matters worse. So, I call on donors and I call on the international community to step up their support,” he added. 

The UN chief made the comments at a joint press encounter with Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at Villa Somalia, the federal government’s premises, soon after landing in Mogadishu. He last visited Somalia six years ago. 

Later on Tuesday, accompanied by the Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Adam Abdelmoula, who also serves as his Deputy Special Representative for the country, the Secretary-General met some of the Somalis affected by the country’s humanitarian crisis during a visit to a camp for internally displaced people in Baidoa, the largest city in Somalia’s South West state. 

He met with two different families there.   

The first had travelled 105 kilometres by foot and donkey cart, to seek refuge in Baidoa last year, after all of its livestock perished during the ongoing drought. The second family had done the same after its livestock died and travelled some 70 kilometres to seek aid. 

‘Mobilise much more support’ 

“It is time for the international community to mobilise much more support, support for the Somalis to guarantee the security of their people and fight terrorism, support for the Somalis to solve the humanitarian drama that we can witness in a camp like this one. 

“And support to the Somalis in creating the conditions to build the resilience of their population and to create a path of development for the people of Somalia,” Mr. Guterres said after the meetings. 

“In the Holy Month of Ramadan,” he added, “we need to have generosity from the international community that is absolutely crucial to rescue these people that I've seen in this camp, and that live in such dramatic circumstances.”