Summary: 1 June 2013, Singapore - Speech delivered by European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton on "Defending national interests, preventing conflict" at the Shangri-La Dialogue

The heavy rains in parts of Somalia in April 2013 came as a blessing following a prolonged dry period in 2010 - 2012 that resulted in the death of approximately 250,000 people. The rains however resulted in increased river levels along the Shabelle River leading to floods that affected people and their livelihoods.

27.05.2013 - Press release

2012 Annual Report on Switzerland’s International Cooperation

The just-published 2012 Annual Report on Switzerland's International Cooperation sets out a unified strategy that encompasses – for the first time – humanitarian aid, technical and financial cooperation, economic and trade policy measures, and cooperation with the countries of Eastern Europe. SDC Director-General Martin Dahinden and State Secretary and Director of SECO Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch stress that this important milestone has been welcomed both by Parliament and by public opinion.

In 2012, Sweden was the third largest bilateral humanitarian donor in the world after the United States and the United Kingdom. Since 2005, Sweden's humanitarian aid contributions have risen from SEK 3.3 billion to over SEK 5 billion in 2012.

Overview

Across the East Africa region, consecutive good seasons transformed food security conditions from the initial low point in 2011, which was a great relief coming out of a severe drought. However, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) continued working with other players including government and regional bodies such as the Inter-Governmental Climate Information, Prediction,

Development challenges are increasingly complex, Helen Clark says

Washington — Increasingly complex and interrelated challenges posed by conflict, violence, and disasters demand scaled-up collaboration among governments and development partners, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark said here Thursday.

The African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Board of Executive Directors on April 3, 2013 approved the Somalia Country Brief 2013-2015 which aims to help revive the country’s institutions, and enable the country’s re-engage with the international community after two decades of conflict and isolation.

Under the approval, Somalia will benefit from the Bank’s Fragile States Facility (FSF) and other support windows such as African Water Facility (AWF) and Special Relief Fund (SRF) that are not subject to the country’s arrears situation.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The African Development Bank has allocated $140.5 million to resilience efforts.

• Peace agreements for DRC and Sudan/South Sudan have been signed amid continuing concerns.

• Refugees continue to flee DRC and Sudan. Some 12,000 Somalis left Kenya for Somalia despite challenging conditions.

• Food security has generally improved across the region, though 16 million people are still facing crisis and emergency conditions.

• Peace holds in Kenya voting despite some violence.