UN chief Antonio Guterres has appealed for “massive international support” in an unannounced visit to Somalia's capital Mogadishu, highlighting the scale of the humanitarian crisis in the country.
In a joint press briefing with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Mr Guterres said he was "here to ring the alarm on the need of massive international support because of the humanitarian difficulties the country is facing.”
President Mohamud said that “this visit assures us that the UN is fully committed to supporting our plans for state-building and stabilising the country".
Somalia is one of the countries worst-affected by the most severe drought to hit the Horn of Africa region in decades, after six consecutive failed rainy seasons.
The disaster has wiped out livestock and crops and forced at least 1.7 million people from their homes in search of food and water.
About 43,000 people died in Somalia last year as a result of extremely low rainfall and decimated harvests. Half of the victims are thought to be children under the age of five and fatalities are continuing to rise.
More than 3.8 million people have been internally displaced due to drought and conflict.
And although the country narrowly averted famine last October, more than eight million people are in urgent need of assistance.
This is thought to be the nation’s biggest challenge since a famine killed nearly a quarter of Somalis in 2011.
The UN says about half the country's population will need humanitarian assistance this year.
A $2.6 billion humanitarian appeal it launched in February is currently less than 15 per cent funded.
"The crisis is far from over ― needs remain high and urgent," the UN's resident co-ordinator for Somalia, Adam Abdelmoula, said last week in Geneva.
"Some of the most affected areas continue to face the risk of famine," he added.
Mr Guterres was received by Somalia's Foreign Minister Abshir Omar Huruse and other leaders
Officials imposed a security lockdown on Mogadishu for the visit, with most roads closed and public transport restricted.
The visit comes amid a government major offensive against Al Shabab Islamist insurgents.
The extremist group, which is considered a terrorist group by both the US and UK and is linked to Al Qaeda, regularly carries out attacks in Somalia.
Al Shabab has long posed a threat to aid workers and those working on humanitarian challenges.
In December, the International Rescue Committee, an NGO, said there were "reports of food deliveries being burned and water sources being poisoned or destroyed," in the conflict.
"All of this puts severe constraints on humanitarian efforts to address people’s needs, not just food delivery, but also medical care, water and sanitary health services," the IRC said.
Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Premier League results
Saturday
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Arsenal 1
Bournemouth 0 Manchester City 1
Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Huddersfield Town 0
Burnley 1 Crystal Palace 3
Manchester United 3 Southampton 2
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Cardiff City 0
West Ham United 2 Newcastle United 0
Sunday
Watford 2 Leicester City 1
Fulham 1 Chelsea 2
Everton 0 Liverpool 0
Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten
Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a month before Reaching the Last Mile.
Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
RESULTS
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UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
