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EU pledges support for stabilization of Somalia

Xinhua, May 10, 2016 Adjust font size:

The European Union has pledged more support towards stabilization of Somalia which has been facing increased attacks from Al-Shabaab militants.

EU Ambassador to Somalia Michele Cervone d'Urso announced the broadening of the scope of EU engagements in Somalia in areas of migration, supporting community resilience, fighting human trafficking, and countering violent extremism, among others.

"The EU agenda is very clear. Our future is intertwined with yours. We are building it together. We are committed to a stable Somalia and if you look at issues such as migration, radicalization, economic development, and security cooperation, we have a common agenda," d'Urso said in a statement released by the AU peacekeeping mission (AMISOM) on Tuesday.

"But above all, I am proud I can also claim without any reservation that the well-being of the Somali people always comes first," d'Urso emphasized.

The EU pledge comes after the UN agencies launched a prioritized Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for 2016 in January, seeking 885 million U.S. dollars to reach 3.5 million people in urgent life-saving assistance by the end of year.

The UN said some 4.9 million Somalis require food assistance, noting that the humanitarian community would strive to reduce the figure from 4.9 million to 3.2 million people and reduce malnutrition prevalence rates by the end of 2016.

"We mean business in Somalia. We are committed and the partnership I must say has been growing over these years. And it's not just the normal slogans we tend to say sometimes on these occasions," d'Urso said.

Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has hailed the EU for its support in rebuilding Somalia's security institutions.

Mohamud who was speaking during celebrations to mark Europe Day on Monday in Mogadishu said there a lot of projects and programs that are funded by the European Union in Somalia.

"And everyday, every month, every year, these programs are increasing in number. And the role of Somalis in participating in these programs is also increasing. We are very much grateful," he said.

He appealed for more youth focused projects to address the rising youth unemployment in the country. Enditem