Deputy Special Representative for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) Peter de Clercq arrived today in the Somalia’s autonomous region of Puntland.
In his first visit to the region since his recent appointment, he was welcomed in the port city of Bossaso by officials from the Puntland government and International Aid agencies on Tuesday.
During his tour, Mr de Clercq who is also heads UN Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator and UN Development Programme (UNDP) Resident visited a refugee camp to monitor the living conditions which is hosting Somali returnees and other foreign nationals who have fled the devastating war in Yemen.
Most of them are women, children, people with disabilities and patients.
Later on, the UN deputy Envoy met Puntland’s minister of Interior and Bari region officials. According to sources, talks mainly concerned on the humanitarian and socio-economic challenges.
An estimated 26000 refugees have arrived in the port town of Bossaso since 1st of April when the conflict erupted in the impoverished middle-eastern country.
In a generous move, clerics and local elders have stepped up a campaign to raise funds for the refugees. They have urged businesspersons and Somali diasporas living abroad to take part in the contribution.
Puntland has been widely praised for the joint efforts to receive the refugees and provided makeshift camps though insufficient of resources.
Horseed Media
Somalia: Deputy UN Envoy visits Refugee camp in Puntland
Published: August 4, 2015
