Guterres arrives in Mogadishu, to bolster drought support appeal

GOOBJOOG NEWS MOGADISHU: UN Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Mogadishu Tuesday morning for his second visit to Somalia since coming into office.

The UN chief was received by Foreign Affairs Minister Abshir Huruse. A military unit was also on standby to grant the UN head a guard of honour at the airport.

Guterres is expected to meet with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and Prime Minister Hamze Barre and later proceed to Baidoa where he will witness the unfolding drought situation. The UN chief will be ramping up international support for the humanitarian response in the country.

Guterres came to Somalia first in March 2017 at the height of a deadly drought which aid agencies warned was degenerating into a famine. A similar situation was witnessed last year when the UN said a famine was averted in October but warned the situation remains dire.

Somali government and the UN launched a $2.6 billion Humanitarian Response Plan in January to assist 7.6 million people but as of this month, only 13 per cent has been funded according to the UN.