Baidoa (SONNA) \u2013 A delegation of United Nations officials visited Somalia\u2019s South West State yesterday to discuss ways in which the world body can assist the Federal Member State in a range of areas in 2021.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the first of our visits to the Federal Member States in the new year, and we have come to discuss with the President and his ministers the work of the United Nations in support of South West State. This ranges from support for ongoing reconciliation, security and stabilization efforts to providing humanitarian and development assistance,\u201d the UN Secretary-General\u2019s Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, told the media in the state\u2019s largest city, Baidoa.<\/p>\n
The UN envoy was speaking at a joint press encounter with the Federal Member State\u2019s President Abdi Aziz Hassan Mohamed \u2018Laftagareen.\u2019 Earlier, they had been in discussions along with members of the President\u2019s cabinet, the International Organization for Migration\u2019s (IOM) Chief of Mission for Somalia, Richard Danziger, and, from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Head of its Humanitarian Access and Civil-Military Coordination Unit in Somalia, Edward Melotte.<\/p>\n
\u201cI also particularly came along with this delegation to listen to what the South West State authorities hope for and expect from the United Nations in 2021 so that we can better work together to ensure the needs of the people, and that those of South West State, are also met,\u201d Mr. Swan added.<\/p>\n
South West State support In his remarks, the UN Special Representative flagged some examples of the world body\u2019s local support, adding that some of the innovative projects currently underway are models that can inform the work of the United Nations in other locations in Somalia.<\/p>\n
The projects included the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) and the South West State government working together to improve the local environment through a scheme to plant six million trees around Somalia, with some 200,000 of those tree seedlings to be planted near Baidoa.<\/p>\n
Mr. Swan spoke of how the United Nations is working with local partners to reduce its environmental footprint and support a shift to renewable energy production. He highlighted how an agreement signed last year, between UNSOS and a private sector firm, paves the way for the supply of solar power to the African Union-United Nations camp in Baidoa city as well to the general Baidoa market.<\/p>\n
“Solar panels will be laid out later this year,\u201d he noted. IN relation to the large population of internally displaced persons in and around Baidoa \u2013 numbered at around 500,000 \u2013 Mr. Swan spoke of the IOM\u2019s work with partners to find durable solutions for them, including the development of new settlements near the town of Barwaaqo. \u201cThese settlements are approached as an integrated part of the urban environment, and planned as urban extensions, rather than temporary camps disconnected from the city.<\/p>\n
So far, more than 700 households have been relocated and a further one thousand households will soon join them,\u201d Mr. Swan said. \u201cThese settlements will include basic services, such as health clinics and sanitation facilities, schools as well as police stations and roads.\u201d The meeting with the South West state\u2019s President and members of his team also covered issues of humanitarian access. The UN envoy, in his remarks to the media, noted that the opening up of airspace to enable unhindered humanitarian support to vulnerable populations remains a key concern.<\/p>\n
He said he welcomed and encouraged the state government\u2019s \u201ccontinued support to ensure and sustain the security of airstrips across South West State.\u201d Political situation The discussions with President Abdi Aziz also covered the wider political situation in Somalia, including the country\u2019s elections. In this respect, the UN envoy expressed his appreciation for the South West State leader\u2019s ongoing efforts to bring the different parties together to agree on a way forward.<\/p>\n
Earlier this week, a wide range of Somalia\u2019s international partners, including the United Nations, issued a joint statement in which they expressed their concern about the continuing impasse in implementing the electoral model agreed on 17 September by Somalia\u2019s President Mohammed Abdullahi \u2018Farmajo\u2019 and the country\u2019s Federal Member State leaders.<\/p>\n
\u201cI reiterate that a spirit of consensus and collaboration, which means putting the good of the country first, is paramount at this time,\u201d Mr. Swan said. \u201cWe in the UN urge all of Somalia\u2019s leaders to make every effort to engage in dialogue in a collegial spirit to ensure that the national elections are held, based on broad consensus (and) rooted in the 17 September agreement, and that these elections are underpinned by transparency, fairness and inclusivity.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his closing remarks, the UN envoy also highlighted that while the COVID-19 pandemic may be showing signs of lowered intensity, it is still present in Somalia. He underscored the importance of vigilance and continuation of precautionary measures.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe United Nations will continue providing support with surveillance to health authorities both in South West State and across all Federal Member States for as long as is required,\u201d Mr. Swan added.<\/p>\n
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