The Acting President of Puntland and Vice President of the Puntland State Government, Ilyas Osman Lugatoor, today hosted a delegation led by Mr. Antoine Grand, Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Somalia, at his office in Garowe.
The meeting focused on enhancing and expanding ICRC’s humanitarian programs across Puntland, emphasizing urgent assistance for communities affected by conflict and natural disasters, particularly the drought-impacted Calmiskaad area. Both sides discussed the need to strengthen humanitarian operations, improve coordination, and ensure timely delivery of life-saving aid to the most vulnerable populations.
Acting President Lugatoor highlighted the Puntland government’s commitment to supporting international partners in addressing the immediate and long-term humanitarian needs of residents. He emphasized the importance of integrated strategies that combine emergency relief, health services, food assistance, and support for livelihoods in drought- and conflict-affected areas.
Mr. Antoine Grand commended Puntland’s leadership for its proactive engagement with humanitarian actors and stressed ICRC’s continued commitment to supporting local communities. He also highlighted the need for sustained collaboration between government institutions and humanitarian organizations to maximize the impact of relief programs.
The meeting brought together key government officials, including the Ministers of Humanitarian Affairs, Labour and Social Affairs, and Agriculture, as well as senior representatives from the Presidency. Participants discussed ways to coordinate ongoing and future initiatives, share information on priority areas, and expand outreach to underserved populations.
The delegation and Puntland leadership agreed on several immediate actions, including scaling up the delivery of essential food and non-food items, improving access to clean water and health services, and providing protection and assistance to conflict-affected households.
This engagement reflects Puntland’s ongoing efforts to strengthen partnerships with international humanitarian organizations to address pressing social and economic challenges while improving resilience against natural disasters and conflicts.
Lugatoor reaffirmed Puntland’s commitment to ensuring that humanitarian programs are implemented efficiently, transparently, and in close collaboration with local authorities and communities, ensuring that aid reaches those most in need.