(25-11-23) MOGADISHU — The Somali government, through the National Commission for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRI), on Saturday announced a series of pledges at the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) in Mogadishu. This commitment marked a critical step forward in Somalia’s efforts to address the challenges posed by climate change and displacement.
Ms. Safia Mohamed, NCRI Commissioner, highlighted the severity of the situation: “Over 3 million are displaced in and outside Somalia due to climate crises, with the recent El-Nino floods impacting over a million.”
The Interior Minister, H.E Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, stressed the nation’s vulnerability to climate disasters, citing the El-Nino’s devastating toll on life and property.
The pledges focus on integrating legal frameworks for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) into governmental policies and climate actions. This approach aims at ensuring full inclusion, informed decision-making, climate resilience, peacebuilding, and effective disaster risk management.
Mr. Jibril Afyare, Director of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasised the necessity of a joint approach to Somalia’s response at the GRF.
Mr. Magatte Guisse, UNHCR Somalia Country Representative, reaffirmed the UN agency’s support for the Somali government’s strategy in safeguarding refugee and host communities.
NCRI’s Strategic Advisor, Mohamed Gelle, who presented the pledges to be taken to Geneva this December, outlined the commission’s commitment to delivering substantive results in these key areas.
The forum saw participation from representatives of Federal Member States (FMS), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and international stakeholders, marking a unified effort to tackle the refugee crisis.
The pledges made by the Somali government at the GRF signify a critical effort towards developing sustainable solutions for the country’s refugees, returnees, and IDPs, amidst the escalating challenges posed by climate change and displacement.
Halqabsi News
