CERF ensures the continuation of air logistics services in Somalia

17 May 2007: CERF provides US$ 2.9 million to time-critical air logistics support in Somalia, thereby ensuring that life-saving humanitarian assistance reaches both flood- and conflict affected areas in the country.

CERF supports the continuation of UNHAS air cargo flights to both flood- and conflict affected areas. These flights are of vital importance for the continued delivery of humanitarian assistance in Somalia. This service is utilized only where there is no overland and sea access as well as for time-sensitive cargo that can not be transported by other means within the required time frame. CERF has previously funded US$ 2.8 million and US$ 2.5 million in 2006 and February 2007, respectively, for this time-critical and life-saving activity.

“WFP is extremely grateful for this very timely contribution from CERF,” said WFP Somalia Country Director Peter Goossens in Nairobi. “It means that agencies and NGOs will be able to send more staff and more assistance by air – something that is essential during the current long rains, especially with the recent increased needs arising from the fighting in Mogadishu.” [Click here to read the WFP press release of 5 June 2007]

CERF allocates US$ 1 million to enhance the security for UN personnel in Somalia

23 February 2007: Somalia has endured fifteen years of armed conflict and generalized violence, which has resulted in widespread human rights abuses, the destruction of public infrastructure, and the disintegration of basic health and social services. The humanitarian situation of vulnerable civilians remains dire. Concurrently, Somalia continues to be plagued by natural disasters such as droughts and floods. IDPs remain an especially vulnerable group, particularly those IDPs who come from the historically discriminated social caste groups and minority clans. Militia and ex-combatants are also a priority for attention by the international community, as they cause vulnerability by creating insecurity and access difficulties.

Children play in the flood-waters at an internally displaced persons camp in Arare, southern Somalia. [Photo: IRIN/Deghati]

The political landscape has been volatile over the last several months, with widespread conflict between militia of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) and the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), backed by Ethiopian forces. The ICU was defeated and the TFG has now started to relocate to Mogadishu. However, it has limited capacity and resources to respond to the humanitarian situation and to improve the quality of life of Somali people. Furthermore, its capacity to extend its authority over the national territory remains limited. Following the adoption by the Security Council of Resolution 1744, the first wave of AMISOM troops arrived in Somalia in early March 2007. While it is hoped the deployment will improve the security environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance, there are also concerns over the possibility of even more insecurity.

Heavy Deyr rains in late 2006, caused widespread flooding yet at the same time also resulted in an improvement in livelihood and food security. That said, areas of southern Somalia continue to experience a Humanitarian Emergency and the country remains Chronically Food Insecure. Insecurity and limited access remain overriding constraints, limiting the field presence of humanitarian agencies, complicating logistics and increasing both cost and delay.  Any renewal of conflict or heightened insecurity could have major repercussions across southern Somalia at a time when stabilisation and reconciliation is of paramount importance to avoid the country from spiralling into anarchy. 

The response of OCHA, the UN Country Team and the international community to the prevailing humanitarian crisis and chronic political instability has been a mix of humanitarian and recovery/transition initiatives that seek to: 1) Save lives and assist vulnerable communities and populations at risk so that they can become more resilient to crises; 2) Enhance the protection of, and respect for, the human rights and dignity of all people in Somalia; and
3) Strengthen local capacity for social service delivery and response to natural or conflict-related disaster

The CERF grant of US$ 1 million will facilitate the establishment of a common inter-agency security system, based on the UNDSS Minimum Operational Security Standards (MOSS) and the Enhanced Minimum Operational Security Standards (EMOSS) for two locations in South-Central Somalia. The establishment of this system will allow UN Agencies and NGOs staff in Somalia to sustain a permanent international presence in Mogadishu and South-Central Somalia, thus conducting effective programmes implementation and monitoring despite the volatile security environment.

One third of all funds from the Central Emergency Response Fund is earmarked for use in under-funded emergencies, in order to help redress imbalances in global aid distribution, as a result of which millions of people in so-called neglected or forgotten crises remain in need.

This allocation to Somalia in March 2007 forms part of the third allocation from the under-funded window of the CERF. The total amount of underfunded allocations stands at US$ 162 million since the Fund’s inception in March 2006.  more...

Click here for CERF third under-funded allocation in Central and East Africa

In 2007, Somalia has received a CERF grant of US$ 2.5 million to time-critical air logistics support in Somalia, thereby ensuring that life-saving humanitarian assistance reaches both flood- and conflict affected areas in the country.

In 2006, Somalia received a total of US$ 16 million from the rapid response grants window. Click here for CERF in Somalia 2006

[Last Update: 12 April 2007]

«CERF Around the World