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Somalia + 1 more

Australian support for Somalia

The Australian Government will provide $10 million in assistance to enhance stability and support state building efforts in Somalia.

The humanitarian situation in Somalia is extremely fragile with nearly 3 million people in need of assistance and over 200,000 children acutely malnourished.

Enhancing stability in Somalia is in Australia's national interests. It will help combat terrorism, improve stability in the Indian Ocean Rim and reduce piracy along important trading routes for Australia.

Australia's assistance will be aligned with the New Deal Compact for Somalia – an agreement between the Federal Government of Somalia and the international community – which sets a pathway to peace and stability in Somalia.

The Australian Government is allocating $2 million to support the objectives of the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM). AMISOM, alongside the Somali National Army, is central in the fight against the Al Shabaab terrorist organisation.

A further $8 million will be delivered as humanitarian assistance to provide life-saving support, such as access to water and medical care, and to help build resilience for natural and conflict-related emergencies.

This funding will also help to improve the economic status of Somalis emerging from conflict by providing agricultural goods such as seeds and tools, improving farming methods, and assisting with economic development.