U.S provide funds to improve social services in Somalia

NAIROBI, Daniel Ooko - The United States will provide nearly 4 million US dollars to improve access to basic social services for the people of the southern region of Somalia.

A statement from the U.S. embassy in Nairobi said on Thursday that the funds, to be presented to the UN children's fund, UNICEF, on Friday in Nairobi reaffirmed Washington's strong commitment to support credible and legitimate governance institutions in the war-torn nation.

The statement said the assistance package, known as the Social Service Delivery to Support Recovery and Stability in Southern Somalia, will improve the Horn of Africa's nation's ability to deliver basic social services to the Somali population.

"As the Somali people move forward in reconciliation and peace-building, their access to basic services and education must also improve," said U.S. Special Envoy for Somalia, Ambassador John Yates. 

"The U.S. support to Somalia's recovery is comprehensive, recognizing that increased access to education, healthcare and water will contribute to sustainable peace."

Yates said the program will be implemented by UNICEF, who received over 2.3 million dollars to establish an urban water supply in Baidoa town and rural water points in Bay and Bakol regions in September 2006. 

The latest contribution brings the total of U.S. contributions to people of southern Somalia for water and social services to over 6.2 million dollars. 

Somalia has experienced 16 years of conflict and chaos, and many failed attempts to achieve peace and stability.   

As a result, children have been prevented from attending school, families from obtaining basic health services and clean water and local governments from effectively doing their job.   

Early this year, the United States which is one of the leading donors to Somalia committed over 6 million dollars for the next two years to support the Transitional Federal Institutions and local governance institutions to promote peace and security in Somalia and to support the national reconciliation congress which concludes late Thursday.

Source: MWC NEWS

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