The governments of Somalia and the UK have jointly hosted a high-level forum in London on the protection of communities affected by situations of vulnerability and conflict.
Somali Deputy Prime Minister Saleh Jama and UK Minister for Africa, Lord Collins, co-chaired the forum, which brought together officials from governments, international agencies and organizations, and researchers from various universities and academies.
The focus was on the fact that community protection is not only an emergency response in times of crisis, but is also central to peace, social resilience and state development.
“Today marks the first meeting of the High-Level Panel on the Protection of Communities Affected by Situations of Vulnerability and Conflict. It marks the beginning of a six-month mandate,” said the Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia.
Nearly three-quarters of the world’s poorest people live in vulnerable situations, where crises are prolonged and many are forced to flee their homes and become refugees.
The Council noted in its statement that when floods, storms and droughts strike, conflicts erupt, and economic disasters destroy livelihoods, social protection can be the first line of defense for society.
This will facilitate the development of local, impactful solutions that enable vulnerable people to cope, survive, recover from crises, and rebuild their lives while remaining in their homes, a process that reduces the need for humanitarian assistance.
