Brussels, 6 July 2022
Due to the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Somalia, the EU is launching a Humanitarian Air Bridge, to delivering emergency supplies to hard-to-reach areas which are no longer accessible by road. This will be a major logistics operation, with an estimated 50 to 70 flights needed.
The first flight, carrying 6.5 tons of therapeutical nutrition and medical supplies for the EU’s humanitarian partner Action Against Hunger is expected to depart to Somalia’s south-western district of Elbarde on 6 July 2022. It is expected that between 6-11 July 2022, more flights will reach the regions of Baidoa, Luuq and Wajid, with supplies for humanitarian partners.
Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič said “Somalia is facing an increased risk of famine. The historic drought affecting the Horn of Africa, compounded by the repercussions of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, is resulting in massive suffering and displacement. Already more than 805,000 people have been newly displaced by the drought, a situation expected only to deteriorate further. We are organising a series of flights that will deliver essential supplies, mainly food and medicines, to our humanitarian partners in far-flung regions of Somalia, where air transport is the only way to deliver this assistance.”
The EU has allocated up to €800,000 to this special operation, which will support the delivery of EU-funded medical and nutritional supplies during the dry season. The funding for the flights and the supplies comes from the humanitarian budget of the EU.
Background
For decades, Somalia has suffered from prolonged conflict and extreme weather, including recurrent droughts and floods. The country is now facing an unprecedented forecast of a 4th consecutive failed rainy season. This is compounded by protracted conflict, political instability, and a desert locust infestation. In addition, the socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and soaring global food and fuel prices due to Russia’s war in Ukraine affect large parts of Somalia. Over 7.7 million people require humanitarian assistance, including thousands at risk of famine. EU humanitarian funding is helping aid organisations in Somalia provide assistance to those in need.
In 2022, the EU allocated €61 million for humanitarian projects in Somalia, mainly responding to the ongoing drought.
The EU and its Member States provide over 35% of all humanitarian aid in Somalia.
In April 2022, Commissioner Lenarčič co-hosted, with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) a roundtable on the drought in the Horn of Africa, where additional funding for boosting food security was announced, including €348 million from the Commission and €285 million from EU Member States in a ‘Team Europe’ approach. This funding includes humanitarian assistance and longer-term support to tackle root causes of food insecurity including climate adaptation and mitigation measures.
The EU had previously organised 3 Humanitarian Air Bridge flights to Somalia in 2020, transporting much-needed health equipment to humanitarian partners. These operations occurred when global transport and freight halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since March 2022, the Humanitarian Air Bridge operations are part of the European Humanitarian Response Capacity, a set of operational and logistical tools managed by the European Commission that supports humanitarian partners in delivering humanitarian aid.
For more information
European Union Humanitarian Aid Bridge
European Humanitarian Response Capacity
EU support to the African Union Mission in Somalia: Council approves further support under the European Peace Facility
6 July 2022
Following the adoption by the Council in April 2021 of an assistance measure taking the form of a general programme for support to the African Union in 2022-2024 under the European Peace Facility (EPF), the Political and Security Committee today approved additional support for the military component of the African Union Mission in Somalia/African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (AMISOM/ATMIS).
In 2022 the EU will add €120 million to the resources previously mobilised for AMISOM/ATMIS in 2021.
The agreed support will mostly contribute to the troop allowances of the African soldiers deployed, to enable the mission to effectively carry out its mandate.
Previous support of €65 million under the EPF covering the period 1 July – 31 December 2021 was agreed in July 2021.
Background
The EU is the largest direct contributor to AMISOM/ATMIS, for a total amount of close to €2.3 billion since 2007. The EU is ready to remain closely engaged and fully committed to contributing to the activities of AMISOM/ATMIS and consolidating the achievements attained so far.
In line with the EU’s integrated approach to external conflicts and crises, EPF funding for AMISOM/ATMIS is one element of a broader, coordinated and coherent engagement of the EU to support security and peace in Somalia, and in the Horn of Africa at large.
The financing for the military component of AMISOM/ATMIS is the second action supported under the assistance measure in support of African-led peace support operations, worth €600 million under the European Peace Facility covering the period 2022-2024.