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From Relief to Recovery: A longer-term vision for Somalia
Atta al Manane said, "After 20 years of pouring money into Somalia we come again to famine." And, "Can we speak about development while there is a war? Humanitarians can provide the answer." He added that Muslim organisations are doing a huge job in Somalia but they need more capacity, funding, and training - "let us wok on a new vision together".
Rozanne Chorlton, the acting UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia called for the different participants to "work together to focus on the rights and welfare of the Somali people". She added that the meeting is "extremely important, exactly what needs to happen. Focus on progress through partnership, rather than competition."
Dr Ahmed said that Somalia has been trying to tell the world for 2 years about intense needs. "What is new about Somalia is media interest." He bemoaned that most of the refugees are from the food basket of Somalia.
Dr Hany said "We need to build the capacity of genuine local organisations ... to empower organisations that deserve to be empowered." He also highlighted the role of new, actors from the Gulf, Turkey and Egypt.
The main issues were:
- Coordination: Greater understanding of systems; improving systems to suit needs in Somalia. Atta al Manane said "OIC and OCHA are already married".
- Priorities for moving from relief to development. Rozanne Chorlton "Recovery is a duty, there has been too much short-termism".
- Under-used resources: invest in civil society, local NGOs; involve business (local, Diaspora). As Atta al Manane said, the population is intelligent, but has become dependent.
- Shared priorities for the key areas of: water; food and agriculture; livestock and livelihoods. These were developed into plans and partnerships for development were identified.
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