UN chief says Somalia "hangs between peril and potential"

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called on the international community to further step up efforts to support and build resilience in the troubled east African nation of Somalia.

Guterres told diplomats and delegates at the London Somalia Conference held at Lancaster House in central London that "Somalia now hangs in the balance between peril and potential. We have to act now to break the cycle of fragility and vulnerability".

"Here in London, we can tip the scales from danger to safety. Political stability is gradually gaining ground. Somalia has increased its capacity to govern. The foundations for improved stability are in place. But all these gains that the president and the government have managed are fragile," said Guterres.

Guterres addressed members of the Somali government and representatives of the international community at the one-day conference, the third to be held in London over the past six years, and called for investments that preserved progress and which addressed the growing food insecurity crisis affecting millions of Somalis.

"Their lives have been torn apart by a deadly combination of chronic drought, endemic poverty and fragility, combined with displacement, ongoing instability as well as violations of humanitarian and human rights law in the context of the terrorist attacks," said Guterres.

The food crisis has left 6.2 million people severely food insecure, with 439,000 are at risk of famine, and 275,000 malnourished children are at risk of starvation.

"The lean season is coming. Hunger conditions are expected to worsen over coming months. In areas where the rain failed, there may be no crops," said Guterres.

UN agencies and partners have "significantly scaled up assistance" over the past few months, he said, and were helping nearly two million people with food, cash transfers, nutrition treatment, health interventions, safe water and protection services.

Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, known as Farmajo, told the conference that together with the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), he was "confident that we can defeat (the terrorist organization) Al-Shabaab in the next few years."

He added: "Once we recover the remaining territories and secure supply routes, we will stabilize the country by building local administrations in collaboration with the federal member states. We believe that communities are best placed to collaborate with the local, state and federal governments to stabilize the country."

British Prime Minister Theresa May, who is hosting the conference, said President Farmajo had already shown great leadership in forging an historic agreement between the Federal Government and the Federal Member States over the future of Somalia's army and police.

May added: "You have a mandate to shape a new future for your country. And we are here today, first and foremost, to support your efforts." Endit