Thursday April 6, 2023
UNHCR/B. António Guterres meeting with Somali refugees at Dadaab camp in Kenya as the High Commissioner for Refugees. May 14, 2015
Mogadishu (HOL) - United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is scheduled to visit Somalia next week as part of his annual tradition of visiting a Muslim-majority country during the holy month of Ramadan. In a recent interview with UN News's Arabic service, Guterres urged unity and peace, underlining the critical need for stability in conflict-ridden regions like Somalia.
Somalia, teetering on the edge of a full-scale famine, faces severe challenges that have left nearly half its population – 8.25 million people – needing lifesaving assistance or protection. Around 1.8 million children suffer from severe malnutrition, and approximately eight million individuals lack access to adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities.
Exacerbating the crisis, Somalia is dealing with increasingly extreme weather conditions caused by climate change, such as prolonged droughts and devastating floods. Furthermore, the country is still plagued by attacks from the violent extremist group Al-Shabab.
During the interview, Guterres said, "I think this is the moment for us to be united for peace. Peace is the most precious thing that we can have in the world."
Guterres reflected on his experiences of fasting alongside Muslims during Ramadan, explaining how these experiences have revealed "the true face of Islam." He expressed his admiration for the peace, solidarity, and generosity he has witnessed in refugee-hosting communities, as well as the resilience and courage of the refugees themselves. The UN chief emphasized that these experiences continue to serve as a driving force behind his work as the Secretary-General of the United Nations.