Global effort needed to rescue Somalia, says Mitchell
By Nick Mann | 30 January 2012
International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell has called for more to be done to tackle the underlying causes of instability in Somalia.
On a visit to the east Africa country, Mitchell today said a new stronger approach to dealing with the ‘root causes and effects’ of the problems it faces had to be agreed at a high level conference being held in London on February 23.
Without this, he said the country’s decline would continue and it would risk being dragged back into famine during the coming year.
Mitchell announced plans for the UK to increase its own aid efforts in Somalia over the next three years, focusing on the underlying issues affecting the region. This will include funding more police training, a tougher judicial system and providing jobs for young men.
According to the Department for International Development, aid projects focused on resolving local conflicts and strengthening the police are expected to double next year, with more being done to make district authorities more accountable and able to deliver basic services.
Support for job creation and economic development will also double – with the aim of creating 45,000 jobs across Somalia by 2015. DFID believes unemployment and extreme poverty play a key part in young men turning to piracy, crime and extremism.
Mitchell announced £20m of new British support for health services which is expected to benefit over 100,000 women and children, as well as funding to take more weapons off the streets by enabling police stations to store them more securely.
The UK will also supply a further £55m this year in humanitarian aid, including food, water, medicine and agriculture support, which is expected to benefit over one million people.
Mitchell highlighted the continued impact of recent famine in south Somalia, and Britain’s continued commitment to address the country’s problems, which he said were made worse by it being a ‘failed state’.
‘Famines, piracy, terrorism – these are all symptoms of years of breakdown,’ he said. ‘It is crucial that we tackle head on the underlying causes of these problems. That is why Britain is spearheading a new international effort but we need others to play their part.
‘We want to secure a new, stronger international approach in London next month, to break this cycle of decline and offer ordinary Somalis hope of a better future.’ 
Senior representatives from over 40 countries and international organisations have been invited by Prime Minister David Cameron to next month’s conference which aims to agree a series of practical measures to support Somalia.
These measures cover seven areas: security; political process; counter-terrorism; piracy; local stability; humanitarian; and international co-ordination.
