Positions for United Nations General Assembly Plenary

The Federal Republic of Somalia

Positions for United Nations General Assembly Plenary I. Protection of Cultural Heritage Sites in Conflict Zones

The destruction of cultural heritage sites that has taken place and agonized various people’s collective sense of identity is one that the Federal Republic of Somalia believes is crucial to curb and address.. These violations and the resulting desire for revenge against those who sought to threaten their sovereignty or established only further destruction of cultural heritage sites, as well as serves as recruitment for terrorist organizations such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). We have to remember the importance of the protection and preservation of the physical and intangible expressions of humanity’s soul. The problem is terrorism, civil wars, and internal strife. We also have to prevent the destruction of these cultural heritage sites, as they are under attack and the prevention and destruction of these cultural heritage sites is an utmost important to the Somali government. The Federal Republic of Somalia realizes black market purchases result in significant revenue and profit for the militias that engage in this type of illegal looting. This is expansive and transcends both time and geopolitical boundaries. Areas in Syria negatively affected include the city of Aleppo, Raqqa, Palmyra, Bosra, and Damascus. Areas in Iraq negatively affected include Hatra, Mosul, Nineveh, and Nimrud. Somalia needs a stable economic and military partner in the region, with a long history of relations with Somalia, like the African Union to help and end this injustice once and for all. Bettering Somalia’s position and relationship with members of the African Union makes sense, with clear and present dangers faced by both Somalis and other African Union members providing common areas of cooperation. While the direct intervention of African Union governments, whether through economic, diplomatic, or military methods, would require the full support of the independent and sovereign Somali government, it would be beneficial to the stabilization of the Somali government and its people to have the backing of the African Union and the broader international community. Somalia encourages the formation of the National Historical Collation of African History (NHCAF) for short in order to bring about prosperity and protection of historical and cultural sights, that are currently in danger and those sights with a high level of threat. The use for influence and powerful military and economic means to stabilize, protect and save, not only lives, natural resources and most importantly cultural and historical heritage sites, is the utmost important issue in Somalia at this time. Africa is a land rich with cultural and historical importance in the world, most of which has not been excavated and explored by anthropologists and archaeologists. With the help of the internal community, these sights can be protected,funding are research and excavation, so that future generations can study and learn what we have had the privilege to study ourselves. This decision to bring in African Union military, diplomatic, and economic resources into the region is a result of the dire need to protect these cultural and historical heritage sites from destruction due to the violence of several terrorist groups and other factions in the region; foremost among these is the group known as the ISIS, but also includes Boko Haram, Lord’s Resistance Army, Al-Shabaab, and Al-Qaeda. The advancing nature of globalization means that events in any one member state will not only affect the people of that state, but also that they will be a factor that plays into the geopolitical areas of international relations and diplomacy. The time for bold and creative thinking is upon us in order to address and solve some of the most pressing issues of our time, with the emphasis of a re-committed partnership between Somalia and the African Union being paramount. The lack of one, as well as concrete efforts to protect cultural heritage sites, is one of the many factors that has contributed to the breakdown of authority that Somalia has periodically suffered. Somalia calls for unification and opened mindedness of the international community and all member nations, on the choices of the Somali government in order to stop and solve a clear and present danger that faces the Somali government and it’s people . The implementation and and toleration of the policies of Somalia with the interactions and cooperation between the African Union governments will be beneficial to local populations, national economic and the overall strategic security of not only Somalia, but the horn of Africa. Somalia would like to recognize the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Security Council, as well as the governments of the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Fifth Republic Of France for the humanitarian aid and regional help they have shown support for the Somali government and people.

II. Addressing the Global Economic Effects of Natural Disasters

As it stands, the Federal Republic of Somalia experiences a vast amount of natural disasters. Nearly 1.4 million people in Somaliland and Puntland have experienced below average rains for up to four seasons, spanning two years. This comes only six years after a devastating famine led to the death of more than 250,000 Somalis. Somalia understands that the majority of economic burden relating to natural disasters comes from those who are caught unaware by such catastrophic events. To rectify this shortcoming, we propose the creation of an international broadcasting system that can operate on each continent in order to provide the necessary information global citizens might otherwise not have access to.of a million people – half of them children. Malnutrition and drought-related diseases are on the rise, so are displacements, including to Ethiopia. Increasing competition for resources such as water is already increasing local tensions and could trigger further inter-communal conflict. Somalia recognizes that rapid urbanization further expands society’s vulnerability- a lack of urban infrastructure is these regions further heightens the threat of catastrophic economic loss. The Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU)’s post-Jilaal 2017 survey indicates a high prevalence of Global Acute Malnutrition (15% to 30%) in the Bay, Bakool, Sool, Sanaag, Bari and Nugal regions, as well as in Baidoa and Mogadishu IDP camps. Overall, some 388,000 acutely malnourished children are in need of critical nutrition support, including life-saving treatment for more than 87,000 severely malnourished children. Nearly 895,000 internally displaced people due to drought and conflict rely almost exclusively on assistance for basic services and life support. Somalia suggests the United Nations establishes a wide broadcast for news and information regarding natural disasters. This broadcasting system will cover multiple platforms and provide information on incoming natural disasters, Somalia hopes to uplift and mobilize the global community to protect ourselves from natural disasters, and in turn the global economy. We ask that our fellow member states in the international community partner private and public funds funds and resources for the construction and development of satellite and cell phone towers. The Issues that affect Somalia, are not only contain in Somalia. The issue of this horrific drought has been felt throughout eastern Africa, with a massive population and famine happening in the countries of Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, and Mozambique. This issue affects us all through economic diversification of exports, economic stability of future growth and invest, the protection and provision of basic human demands to our populations and the vacuum of power that comes to regions with unstated populations, with weakening governments, that opens the door for terrorists organizations such as ISIS. Until the international community addresses the civil unrests of these regions, there can never be proper organization and preparation for natural disasters.