Security Council calls for “significant progress”

The United Nations Security Council has called on all Somali parties to observe international humanitarian law and ensure the safety and security of aid workers. The Council made the call after a briefing on the humanitarian situation in Somalia by Carolyn McAskie, Deputy to the Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator. The Council’s statement noted the improved humanitarian and security situation, but stressed that “a substantive and definite improvement in the humanitarian situation cannot be sustained without significant progress in the settlement of the conflict and of political reconciliation”.

The Council called on the donor community to extend assistance, and “stressed the importance of support to the UN agencies and national and international NGOs in addressing the humanitarian needs of the Somali people and to facilitate the peace process”. The statement also expressed support for the work of UNIFEM as well as NGOs towards preventing female genital mutilation.