UN Security Council pledges financial support to Somali gov't

[xiinfaniin]

British envoy: UN Security Council pledges financial support to Somali gov't

 

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

 

 

Media Stakeout: Informal comments to the Media by the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom, H.E. Sir John Sawers, on the situation in Somalia and on Non-proliferation/De mocratic People's Republic of Korea.

[Webcast: Archived Video - 7 minutes ]

 

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UNITED NATIONS, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Security Council agreed to provide logistical support to the government of Somalia engaged in fierce battles with Islamist insurgent forces, and will do so through assessed contributions, marking the first time, said the top British envoy to the UN here on Tuesday.

 

"For the first time the Security Council has agreed to provide logistical support and to pay for that through UN assessed contributions," British UN Ambassador John Sawers told reporters after the council met on Tuesday morning. "That money, once it's agreed upon in the UN system, will be guaranteed ... and so it's amore reliable source of financial support than is made available through trust funds."

 

Funding for the United Nations and its agencies comes from two sources -- assessed contributions and voluntary contributions, which are less reliable as individual countries are allowed to decide whether or not, and how much, to contribute.

 

Currently, the UN Fifth Committee of the General Assembly, which is in charge of the UN administrative and budgetary affairs, is working on the budget for Somalia but Sawers said it is expected to be somewhere between 200 million and 300 million U.S. dollars to be paid over the course of the year, and will fund essential support in terms of rations, electricity, water and basic provisions.

 

"We will be watching the situation in Somalia very closely and giving what support we can to (President) Sheikh Sharif to seal off attempts to overthrow the government," Sawers told reporters. "I think Somalis now realize that the future of Somalia is largely in their own hands."

 

Responding to media reports that Ethiopian military forces have crossed back into Somalia, four months after leaving, Sawers said the Security Council wanted to seek support for the Djibouti agreement, which includes the withdrawal of Ethiopian forces.

 

The UN-facilitated 2008 Djibouti Peace Agreement between the Transitional Federal Government and the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia mandated that Ethiopian troops leave Somalia after crossing into the country in late 2006 to help Somali government forces oust an Islamist administration in south and central Somalia.

 

On Monday, Somali President Sheikh Sharif called on the international community for assistance in the fight against local insurgents and foreign fighters who he said invaded Somalia.

 

Intense fighting between the government and the opposition Al-Shabaab and Hisb-ul-Islam groups erupted on May 8 in several north-west areas of Somalia's capital, Mogadishu.

 

The number of Somalis fleeing the latest escalation of fighting in and around Mogadishu has surpassed 67,000, according to a statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

 

On Tuesday, the UNHCR began distributing aid -- cooking sets, plastic sheeting and blankets -- for some 50,000 people in the Afgooye corridor through its local partners in Somalia.

 

Somalia is one of the world's largest refugee-producing countries, and the number of Somalis fleeing to neighboring countries continues to rise, the agency added.

 

Source: Xinhua, May 26, 2009

[xiinfaniin]

Currently, the UN Fifth Committee of the General Assembly, which is in charge of the UN administrative and budgetary affairs, is working on the budget for Somalia but Sawers said it is expected to be somewhere between 200 million and 300 million U.S. dollars to be paid over the course of the year, and will fund essential support in terms of rations, electricity, water and basic provisions.

 

Not bad at all.

[nuune]

Not bad at all

[xiinfaniin]

^^ninka dheelayow bal ku dar;

 

sharifka dawla waaye, inta kalena ducuf waaye

[xiinfaniin]

 

Hiiraan Online

Monday, May 25, 2009

 

MOGADISHU (HOL) - In a press conference, Somalia’s interim President discussed wide ranging issues including the current situation of the country, the insurgents, conflict in the central regions of the country and how he sees the recent IGAD an AU declarations on the situation in Somalia.

 

The President started his speech by sending condolences to the relatives of those who died in the recent clashes in Mogadishu and prayed for the quick recovery of those who were wounded.

 

He told reporters that since his election, his government has been trying to restore peace and security to the country through peaceful means and dialogue and that his efforts allowed some who were opposed to his government to join the government.

 

“Unfortunately, however, there are some who are bent on the perpetuation of chaos and war and take orders from foreign entities and continue to de-stabilize the country” said the President who also for the first time directly asked the international community and Somalis to support his government to defend itself.

 

“I call on the Somali people and the international community to come to the defence of the country against foreign invaders” said the President who added that foreigners who invaded the country want to make Somalia like Iraq and Afghanistan. “We know how these groups devastated the countries they have gone to” added the President.

 

The President said that his government will assume responsibility to liberate Somalia from foreign invaders and that he is confident that the Somali people will not allow these invaders to fight along Somali groups who do not understand the interest of Somalis.

 

The President said that his government showed willingness to compromise for the interest of Somali people but insurgent groups are bent on the continuation of chaos and misery in Somalia. “As you know the government has extended its hand to insurgents for peace and has consulted elders and religious leaders as well as civil society so that a lasting peace can be restored to Somalia” said the President.

 

The President said that his government welcomes the “liberation wars” currently going on in the country’s central regions such as Galgadud, Hiiraan, and Middle Shabele. He called those wars noble efforts in which the Somali people are liberating themselves from those who invaded them”

 

He said that the AMISOM troops currently is Somalia will return to their countries after they fulfil their responsibilities and that the withdrawal of these troops depends on the cessation of hostilities aimed at the Somali people and their government.

 

The President concluded his remarks by welcoming the recent declarations by IGAD and the AU to blockade air and sea ports controlled by insurgents.

[Suldaanka]

One wonders where all these money goes and ends up. I remember Col. Yey getting huge sums of money from all corners and now Sheikh Sherif is about doing the same. Obviously they are not helping the poor refugees nor providing services to anyone.

 

It is all beginning to look a lot like a sophesticated Ponzi scheme to me.

[MoonLight1]

Xiin tan ku darso

 

Shariifka shiikheena waaye.

Shabaabna sheydaamo waaye.