UK government announces over £10m to aid relief efforts in Somalia

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The UK government has announced over 10 million pounds in additional funding to support humanitarian aid in Somalia amid an escalating drought situation.

UK Minister of Development Andrew Mitchel confirmed the support on Friday following two days visit in Somalia where he met the President and aid relief officials.

According to a statement from the UK embassy in Mogadishu, Mitchel announced £6.7 million to support health, nutrition, water services, food security assistance and support for victims of gender based violence.

The Minister further confirmed £1.7 million aid match funding with Saudi Arabia’s KS Relief fund that will go towards the World Food Programme. Another £3.8 million which is matched by Germany will form part of the Global Shield initiative for a programme combining support to improve the livelihoods of pastoralists with access to financial services and insurance against drought.

The Minister also announced £3 million in funding which was previously announced at the UN General Assembly to support the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). These funds will target 38,000 women affected by gender based violence in addition to supporting sexual reproductive health support to women in new internally displaced person (IDP) sites.

A further £1.5 million to the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) trust fund to support Somali troops in the fight against al-Shabaab, the UK minister said.

Mitchel noted that the UK was committed to providing urgent support to the most vulnerable who are in the most desperate need but that there was a need for concerted efforts by the international community to avert further human suffering in Somalia.

“This package of support takes the UK’s total humanitarian, health and nutrition funding for Somalia this financial year to nearly £61.2 million. The UK has committed to spending a total of £156 million in humanitarian support for crises in East Africa this financial year,” the UK government added.