GERMANY SUPPORTS VOLUNTARY RETURN OF REFUGEES TO SOMALIA

Today, the Head of German Development Cooperation for Somalia, Ms Julia Kronberg, met with the Somali Minister of Interior, Abdirahman Mahamad Xusein, in order to discuss a project aiming at facilitating the voluntary return of refugees to Somalia.

Germany provides 5 million Euros to the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to implement the project which will help to improve the livelihoods of returning refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the local population in selected host communities.

“The project underlines Germany’s renewed commitment to strengthen development cooperation with Somalia. It also symbolizes the return of German Development Cooperation to South and Central Somalia where the GIZ had been active until 2011 providing development-oriented transitional aid.” Ms Kronberg said.