Rift Valley Fever impact “serious”

The ban imposed last year on livestock imports from the Horn of Africa by the Arab States because of an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever in Saudi Arabia and Yemen has had a serious economic impact on the self-declared state of Somaliland, northwest Somalia. An appeal from the Somaliland ministry of finance said the ban, which still remains in effect, had brought about a shortfall in revenue of about US $2.4 million, or 10 billion Somaliland shillings. It said revenue rose to about US $8.4 million in 1997-98, reflecting “relative calm and peace”, and the 1998-1999 budget was around US $10.8 million. According to the appeal, the budget “was disrupted by the Saudi ban of animal imports from Somaliland, upon which our economy mainly depends.” International isolation and the effect of the livestock ban led to “a curtailment of expenses” which had strained government services and had had the effect of “halting development programmes throughout the regions”. Some 30 government-funded development projects in Somaliland regions had been suspended as a result of the ban, and the appeal asked for international organisations and donors to assist in supporting them. The list included construction of Berbera International Airport, regional animal husbandry offices, orphanages, veterans centres, government buildings, school rehabilitation, and the reconstruction of Hargeisa power station. According to the statement, a civil service of 4,000 and the armed forces both depended on government salaries - and also, in the case of the armed forces, food rations. “The government’s dwindling revenue also meant the weakening of government institutions and its ability to maintain law and order... the National Army has become in danger of disintegration.” A long process of national reconciliation had brought about peace, and militia forces from the different clans had been kept together in barracks away from urban centres, but had become “a huge burden on government resources”, said the statement. It said Somaliland was “a nascent state where there is no private sector industry to absorb such a large number of unskilled young men.” The appeal was sent out to international organisations and donors by Mohamed Said Mohamed ‘Gess’, Somaliland Finance Minister. For full details of impact of Rift Valley Fever ban and appeal for assistance see http://www.somalilandforum.com.