Wednesday, February 22, 2012
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The Swiss Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that the Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Burkhalter will participate in the international conference on Somalia to be held on February 23, 2012 in London.Great Britain has invited representatives of the international community, including Switzerland, to a conference on Somalia. "The conference, to be held in London on February 23, seeks to achieve better coordination of support from the international community and to organise the latter's commitment beyond August 2012, when the Somali federal transitional institutions' mandate is due to end", said the ministry in a press release.
At this conference, particular attention will be paid to the political and constitutional processes initiated in Somalia following the adoption of the road map designed to help the country out of transition.
Switzerland, strongly engaged in the region through its humanitarian aid, deems a commitment on the part of the international community to strengthen the coordination of aid as being a priority in the process of consolidating stability in the region.
The Swiss Humanitarian Aid in the horn of Africa focuses on the following issues: Food security, restoring livelihoods and Creating, maintaining or rehabilitating people's livelihoods. For instance the Swiss humantirian Aid rebuilding wells and agricultural amenities; improving the cattle feed supply; protecting animals against disease; providing non-formal education to the nomadic population; promoting drought-resistant crops.
Multi-sectoral emergency aid and humanitarian coordination: Food aid, water supply, emergency medical aid for conflict and drought victims; supporting humanitarian coordination mechanisms.
Protection of refugees, internally displaced persons and migrants: Providing people who have fled from their homes with the goods, accommodation and medical aid they need to survive, and advocating their rights.
In the implementation of these projects, Swiss Humanitarian Aid is working with the following partner organisations: the United Nations (UN); the International Committee of the Red Cross, Swiss non-governmental organisations (Caritas, MSF-CH, Terre des Hommes Lausanne, Medair, Veterinaires sans Frontieres Schweiz (VSF)), and international NGOs.
In addition, Switzerland regularly provides the UN's organizations with experts from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) when needed.
The Swiss Government's bilateral commitment for the horn of africa increased from USD 20 million for the year 2009 to USD 41 million for the year 2011.