Top UN relief official visits northwestern Somalia

United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland is in northwestern Somalia today, where he met with officials of the self-declared republic of Somaliland to discuss the humanitarian situation in that flood- and drought-prone area.

The cumulative effect of four years of poor rainfall in the Sool Plateau and surrounding areas in Somaliland and Puntland has caused massive livestock losses among farmers, who make up the economic backbone of the area.

While in Hargeisa, Somaliland, Mr. Egeland visited sites where the UN is assisting internally displaced persons (IDPs) and recently returned refugees.