Africa

Africa

UN Security Council calls for "comprehensive strategy" to address Somalia’s multitude of crises

13 December 2011 22:48 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The UN Security Council on Tuesday called for a "comprehensive strategy" to address the multitude of crises impacting Somalia, voicing "grave concern" in particular over the continued famine in the Horn of Africa country, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"The members of the Security Council underlined the seriousness of the political, security and humanitarian problems in Somalia, whose consequences include terrorism, piracy and hostage-taking," said a Security Council statement that was read to the press by Vitaly Churkin, the Russian UN ambassador who holds the rotating UN Security Council presidency for December.

The council members "stressed the need for a comprehensive strategy to address these problems and to encourage the establishment of peace and stability in Somalia through collaborative efforts of all stakeholders," the press statement said.

On the current famine in Somalia, the Security Council " reiterated their grave concern" and urged the international community to contribute to the United Nations consolidated appeal for Somalia.

"The members of the Security Council urged all parties and armed groups to ensure full, safe and unhindered access for the timely delivery of humanitarian aid, and to take appropriate steps to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and supplies," said the statement.

Somalia is recovering from a severe drought and famine described as the worst in more than half a century which forced hundreds of thousands out of their villages into neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia. Some have fled to the government-controlled Somali capital Mogadishu.