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Following is a Press Release from the Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia; Mr Maxwell Gaylard.

The Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Mr Maxwell Gaylard, is appealing to local communities, political and business leaders for a general mobilization to fight the unprecedented humanitarian crisis aggravated by the worst drought in a decade. Community leaders are urged to ensure unhindered access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to populations in need, as well as to ensure the protection of all humanitarian workers in Somalia.  “It is imperative that community elders, religious and political leaders, businessmen and militia create an environment conducive to impartial and independent humanitarian operations. We want to work closely with the Transitional Federal Government, regional authorities and community leaders to quickly reach people in need of assistance and protection, and save the lives that we can,” says Mr Maxwell Gaylard. “We are already seriously challenged by the logistics in central and southern Somalia, and with predicted poor next rains, the situation could quickly deteriorate further. We need across the board support and commitment of everyone to ensure access and protection so that we can alleviate the suffering of Somalis. We cannot do so if the food convoys, medical supplies and other critically-needed assistance are targeted by opportunists and so called uncontrolled militiamen.”

Approximately 1.7 million people are in need of urgent assistance and protection in Somalia, due to the drought that has been caused by the failure of a third consecutive rain season, generalised land degradation and on-going conflict. The situation is further aggravated by an additional 400,000 internally displaced who are at high risk and vulnerability. 

The United Nations and other humanitarian organizations are providing assistance in various sectors (food, livestock and agriculture, health, nutrition, water and sanitation) in the regions they have been able to access thanks to already existing cooperation with some local communities.

For more information, kindly contact: 
Amanda Di Lorenzo
OCHA Somalia 
Tel: +254 20 3754150-5

Click here to view this document in its original form (PDF) from the OCHA website.  

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 14th, 2006 at 9:47 pm and is filed under Africa, Cali Maxmed Geedi, Col. Cabdullaahi Yuusuf Axmed, Development Issues, Food Crisis Emergency, News, Somali Diaspora, Somali Peace Process, Warlords, Western Somalia (Ogaden). You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.