{"id":17618,"date":"2025-08-07T08:48:31","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T08:48:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/?p=17618"},"modified":"2025-08-10T09:19:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-10T09:19:14","slug":"baidoa-humanitarian-forum-supports-local-response","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/2025\/08\/07\/baidoa-humanitarian-forum-supports-local-response\/","title":{"rendered":"Baidoa humanitarian forum supports local response"},"content":{"rendered":"

BAIDOA —<\/strong>\u00a0Baidoa, the interim capital of Somalia\u2019s South West State, yesterday marked the conclusion of the \u201cCountry Humanitarian Forum\u201d, organized by the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA). The high-level gathering brought together government officials, international partners, civil society, and private sector leaders to forge a unified vision for Somali-led humanitarian action that strengthens self-reliance.<\/p>\n

Held under the theme \u201cDriving Localized, Inclusive, and Resilient Humanitarian Action Amid Rising Needs\u201d, the one-day forum served as a platform for in-depth dialogue on the country\u2019s escalating humanitarian challenges and the transition from short-term relief to long-term resilience strategies.<\/p>\n

Calls to End Dependency on Foreign Aid<\/strong><\/p>\n

In his opening address, Acting President and Speaker of the South West State Parliament, Ali Said Fiqi, urged breaking the cycle of reliance on foreign aid by investing in agriculture and water infrastructure, stressing that \u201cpeace must remain the foundation of all our efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) Chairman Mahamud Moallim Abdule presented a clear picture of the crisis, pointing to the severe drought in the Awdal region affecting over 600,000 people, as well as displacement in Hiran, Middle Shabelle, and Gedo.<\/p>\n

He announced the establishment of a $500,000 emergency relief fund, with an initial $200,000 contribution from the Banadir Regional Administration, while stressing that more resources were urgently needed.<\/p>\n

Nimo Hassan, Director\u00a0 of the Somali NGO Consortium, emphasized that lasting progress depends on respecting Somali government leadership and systems, stating that \u201cempowering the Somali people to set their own priorities and shape their future\u201d is the ultimate measure of success.<\/p>\n

Consensus on a New Humanitarian Framework<\/strong><\/p>\n

During discussions, Galmudug\u2019s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Abdirahman Mohamed Dirie \u201cMakawi,\u201d warned about shrinking funds and their impact on life-saving services. UN Special Representative to Somalia, George Conway, called for a broad-based national alliance to address the crisis, noting that responsibility should not rest solely on traditional actors.<\/p>\n

By the forum\u2019s conclusion, participants agreed that temporary fixes are no longer enough. They called for a new humanitarian framework, driven by Somali leadership, to ensure sustainability and strengthen community resilience in the face of future challenges.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BAIDOA —\u00a0Baidoa, the interim capital of Somalia\u2019s South West State, yesterday marked the conclusion of the \u201cCountry Humanitarian Forum\u201d, organized by the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA). The high-level gathering brought together government officials, international partners, civil society, and private sector leaders to forge a unified vision for Somali-led humanitarian action that strengthens self-reliance. Held …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17619,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17618","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-news","category-relief"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t