AMISOM: UN, World Bank call for more funding

With funding into humanitarian response plan for Somalia taking a nosedive, the United Nations (UN) and the World Bank, have called for sustainable funding for the conflict-torn country to avert the deteriorating food security.

According to the UN humanitarian chief, Mark Lowcock, the worsening food security in Somalia, has directly put millions of Somalis under danger as the country continues to battle conflict.

"Notwithstanding all the action that has been taken to deal with the humanitarian needs some months ago, there is a continued need, which will need to be addressed by additional financing, just to safeguard the humanitarian situation over the next several months," Lowcock said during a recent tour of Somalia.

Lowcock said this year Somalia received $487 million (about sh1.7 trillion) in the humanitarian response plan, which is less than half of the required financing to deliver life-saving assistance for the year.

Lowcock was accompanied by Mahmoud Mohieldin, the World Bank Group's senior vice president for the 2030 Development Agenda.

"One million fewer Somalis are hungry today than we had thought would be the case; and that is because there was collective international response three months ago when it became clear the country was running into problems," Lowcock added.

Lakara warns Al-Shabaab

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Nakibus Lakara, the deputy African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) force commander in charge of operations and plans, visited sector 5 controlled by the Burundi contingent in Gololey.

Maj. Gen. Nakibus Lakara, the AMISOM Deputy Force Commander, greets senior military officers from sector four at Beletweyne Airport. AMISOM Photo

Lakara, who was accompanied by the Chief Plans Officer, Col. Ben Gah and the chief operations officer Col John Patrick Otongo, interacted with the troops on welfare issues.

"Opening and securing the Mogadishu-Jowhar-Mahaday-Tayagley main supply route is a priority, and I am happy to note that you have been able to persist in this," Lakara said.

Burundi is one of the five countries contributing troops under AMISOM. Other troop-contributing countries are Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.

Lakara also urged troops to counter Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), which Al-Shabaab terrorists use to mainly target AMISOM convoys and civilians along the main supply routes.

"To deal with Al-Shabaab, you must pursue them. You must adopt measures to end the use of IEDs along the main supply routes," he said.