BAYDHABO – The Somalia Humanitarian Forum (CHF-2025) has concluded in Baydhabo with a unified call for a new strategic approach to aid and disaster management, emphasizing the need for urgent action and Somali-led solutions. The forum, organized by the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) and the Southwest State’s Ministry of Relief and Disaster Management, brought together a wide range of national and international stakeholders to address the nation’s critical challenges.
In a powerful address at the forum, George Conway, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, issued a stark warning. Conway stated that the humanitarian situation in Somalia remains profoundly difficult, with a widespread and urgent need for assistance. He highlighted that a recent decline in humanitarian aid funding is actively jeopardizing the delivery of essential services to vulnerable communities.
The forum’s discussions mirrored these concerns, focusing on the dire effects of persistent drought, large-scale displacement, and the growing impact of climate change. A central point of consensus was the critical need for a paradigm shift—moving away from a model dependent on foreign aid toward one that prioritizes sustainable, locally-driven solutions.
Conway’s address showed the importance of genuine and unified commitment from all stakeholders to address the crisis. He called for coordinated efforts from a diverse group of actors, including the United Nations, international and local aid organizations, the government, donors, civil society organizations, the private sector, and the Somali diaspora. This comprehensive list of stakeholders reflects the forum’s overarching strategy to empower local capacity and foster a collective, Somali-led response to the country’s humanitarian needs.
The forum concluded with remarks from prominent officials, including the Speaker of the Southwest Parliament, Ali Saed Fiqi, and the commissioner of SoDMA, Mohamud Moalim Abdulle. Both leaders thanked the participants for their contributions and emphasized the vital importance of the discussions, which are expected to shape the future direction of humanitarian strategy and disaster preparedness across Somalia.
