Somalia Unites Government and UN in Push to Break Humanitarian Cycle

GOOBJOOG NEWS | GALKAYO: Somalia launched a high-level humanitarian forum in Galkayo on Monday, rallying government leaders, UN agencies, and international partners to confront the country’s deepening emergencies while spotlighting advances in digital governance.

Opening the forum, Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) Commissioner Mohamud Moalim Abdulle described the gathering as crucial for shaping the nation’s relief efforts.

“I am confident we will conclude our discussions today with a concrete position,” he told participants.

Highlighting Somalia’s digital strides, the Director General of the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) unveiled the country’s secure national ID system, a milestone aimed at boosting transparency, enhancing security, and driving digital transformation. The system assigns a unique 11-digit National Identification Number (NIN) to every registered citizen.

Commissioner Abdulle outlined a “perfect storm” of humanitarian threats, including failed seasonal rains, looming La Niña impacts, mass displacement, and severe funding shortfalls, conditions that have left millions of Somalis in urgent need.

In his address, Galmudug’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs urged the United Nations to open a permanent office in Dhusamareb by 2025, while welcoming the newly recognized Federal Member State of SSC-Khatumo into the national fold.

The forum centers on three priorities: scaling up climate adaptation programs, finding durable solutions for 3.8 million internally displaced people, and improving aid coordination.

UN Humanitarian Coordinator George Conway called for systemic reform to meet the growing challenges.

Participants are expected to finalize a Galkayo Action Plan, outlining steps for expanded UN operations in Galmudug, stronger federal-state partnerships, and urgent funding appeals. With millions of lives at stake, the decisions taken in Galkayo could reshape Somalia’s humanitarian future.