Wednesday April 5, 2023
Las Anod (HOL) - The SSC-Khaatumo, the self-declared local governing authority of the Sool region in Somalia, has issued a press release condemning the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) for its alleged misrepresentation and mismanagement of aid delivery in the region.
A press release from the group on Tuesday states that the SSC-Khaatumo has engaged with UNOCHA and other aid agencies over the past three months, informing them of their regional authority and insisting on their approval for any aid distribution efforts in the area. Despite these communications, the SSC-Khaatumo accuses UNOCHA of violating the "do no harm" principle by delivering aid that "continues to subjugate our people" and conspiring with the Hargeisa regime.
The SSC statement came on the heels of the
latest OCHA Flash Update on the Las Anod conflict, and was signed by the SSC's 33-member council, along with the traditional leadership of the SSC.
According to the
UNOCHA report, the conflict and humanitarian crisis in the Sool region have displaced an estimated 154,000 to 203,000 people since December 2022, with around 100,000 crossing into Ethiopia's Somali Region. The severe drought, disease outbreaks, and limited access to safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, shelter, food, and healthcare have further exacerbated the situation.
The SSC-Khaatumo plans to lodge a complaint against UNOCHA and other aid organizations that fail to comply with its directives. It will also caution its communities to be watchful of those who don't follow its instructions. The statement added that although the SSC-Khaatumo appreciates the aid provided by agencies such as UNICEF to the region's communities, it insists that international development partners must seek its approval before starting any aid delivery, assessment, or resource mobilization activities in the area.