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Nairobi,
Kenya, August 21, 2010 – Marking World Humanitarian Day, the United
Nations said Somalia remains one of the neediest countries in the world,
but increasing security, operational, and funding challenges have
hampered the delivery of critical humanitarian assistance this year in
some parts of the country.
U.N. officials in the Kenyan capital paid tribute Thursday to
humanitarian aid workers in Somalia, describing them as heroes who risk
their lives to deliver aid to millions of Somalis affected by both
conflict and natural disasters.
The U.N. Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator for Somalia, Mark Bowden,
says while the humanitarian crisis in Somalia remains one of the worst
in the world, the ability of aid workers to access people who need
assistance is shrinking. He says the situation is particularly worrisome
in south-central regions, where Somalia's al-Qaida-linked extremist
group al-Shabaab has overwhelming control and influence.
"Parts of Somalia are very difficult to get to," said Bowden. "Agencies,
NGOs (non-governmental organizations) find it difficult and dangerous to
work in parts of Mogadishu, for example. Aid workers have been
targeted."
In the past two years, dozens of aid workers - mostly Somali - have been
killed or kidnapped by armed insurgent groups. Numerous humanitarian
organizations, including the U.N.'s World Food Program, have been forced
to shut down or suspend operations because of threats and attacks.
Maulid Warfa, a Somali aid worker working for the U.N. children's agency
UNICEF, told VOA that even in communities where aid is welcomed, it is
not easy to reach needy populations.
"Out of my 18 years of experience in Somalia, I have never had
difficulties with the communities as such," said Warfa. "But often,
challenges come from warring groups, warlords, freelance militias, and
others we call 'gatekeepers,' who want you to come through them before
you get to the most needy people."
This year, the U.N.'s office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs also had to contend with reduced humanitarian funding for
Somalia, due in part to donor concerns over a U.N. report released
earlier this year that accused the World Food Program of diverting up to
half the aid for Somalia to corrupt contractors, Islamist extremists,
and local U.N. workers.
Bowden says U.N. agencies are working to develop and implement new and
better ways of providing humanitarian assistance in Somalia.
"We are putting more emphasis on employment generation," said Bowden.
"We have also introduced new mechanisms of greater accountability and
transparency about how aid is given. I hope that next year, we can
address need more effectively than we have done this year, both in terms
of improving access and in terms of the financial support we get for
humanitarian assistance."
The United Nations says despite challenges, aid workers delivered food
to 340,000 people in Mogadishu and nearly two million others throughout
Somalia in the first six months of this year.
Source: VOA
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