The 125th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

Noting with deep concern the worsening famine in Somalia caused by internal strife and drought in the Horn of Africa, which has resulted in a humanitarian disaster affecting over 12 million people, including 1.5 million internally displaced persons requiring food, water, medical supplies, clothing, shelter and provisions,

Alarmed at the loss of life of tens of thousands of people, in particular children, due to malnutrition,

Commending and welcoming the relief efforts carried out by governments, the United Nations, other international organizations and the international community at large in Somalia and the rest of the Horn of Africa,

Applauding Somalia’s neighbouring countries for receiving hundreds of thousands of Somali refugees,

Recalling UN Security Council Resolution 2010 (2011) adopted on 30 September 2011 on the situation in Somalia, expressing serious concern that the United Nations consolidated appeal for Somalia is not fully funded, stressing the need for urgent mobilization of resources to those in need and calling on all Member States to contribute to current and future consolidated humanitarian appeals,

Expressing full solidarity, sympathy and compassion with the Somali people, who have been affected by the widespread famine,

1. Urgesall IPU Members, other international organizations and the international community at large to scale up their efforts to provide full support and humanitarian assistance to the people of Somalia;
2. Requests IPU Members that have not already done so to pledge and make voluntary contributions towards the relief efforts in Somalia;
3. Urges the international community to work in unison in order for the humanitarian aid to reach the affected areas as soon as possible;
4. Encourages the African Union (AU), governments, relevant international organizations and the IPU Secretariat to assist Somalia in strengthening its democratic institutions, with full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia, through inter alia the development of programmes to assist in establishing the rule of law;
5. Also encourages the AU’s Women, Gender and Development Directorate, thePan-African Women’s Organisation (PAWO),UN Women, the IPU Coordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians and other relevant international organizations to assist Somali women in rebuilding their livelihoods and building their capacity to take care of their families in order to restore their health;
6. Appeals in particular to the authorities in Somalia and neighbouring countries to ensure the personal safety and work of the humanitarian organizations working in the area, and calls for the immediate release of the two Spanish aid workers who were recently kidnapped;
7. Requests the IPU Secretary General to report on the implementation of this resolution at the 126th IPU Assembly.

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