Written question asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 20 December 2011.

Somalia

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effects of Al-Shabab’s recent disruption of the work of non-governmental organisations and United Nations agencies in southern Somalia on humanitarian relief work and the alleviation of famine in the Horn of Africa.

Answer: The decision by al-Shabaab to ban 16 United Nations (UN) agencies and non-governmental organisations operating in south Somalia will further compromise the delivery of humanitarian assistance. The UN is urgently assessing the impact of this decision and working up options for maintaining the delivery of life-saving assistance. Overall, the situation remains confused. A number of the affected agencies are continuing to provide services through Somali partner organisations. But preliminary analysis suggests that an absolute enforcement of the ban will mean 600,000 fewer people receive food assistance in December as compared to October. Significant reductions in beneficiary caseloads for nutrition, health and water and sanitation are also anticipated. We are considering the implications of the UN's assessment for UK programming.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 14200; 733 c374WA
Session: 2010-12
Subjects: Access Humanitarian aid Famine Somalia Non-governmental organisations UN agencies al Shabaab
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk