Topic: Situation in Somalia
Country: Netherlands
Delegate Name: John Dood
School: Forest Hills Northern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Netherlands position papers GLIMUN 2011 committees
In 1991 when civil war broke out in Somalia, Somalia’s central government ceased to be effective. Aid was provided to Somalia by the United Nations and the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) was established in August 2004. Despite this, conditions have not improved very much. Starvation and riots have occurred and militant Islamic groups have invaded the area. AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia), established by Security Counsil Resoulution 1744, has been a usefull organization for negotiating with hostiles in the area.
The Netherlands has mainained execlent relations with African nations. We have established mutually beneficial relationships with these countries and hope to maintain them. We have had mental asylums in uor borders that servised many Somalis when the confict was begining. We have also had a Somali delagate on our house of representatives, Ayaan Hirsi Ali that was named by time Magazine to be one of the "100 most influential people in the world."
The Netherlands has donated over 15 million euros to Somalia relief projects and has pledged 10 million more in humanitarian aid. We have also volunteered a frigate to the EU anti-piracy mission that allows humanitarian aid to be taken to Somalia unharmed by pirates. The Netherlands has also asisted in the training of soldiers in the area.
The Dutch republic believes that the situation will improve when AMISON is at full strength at 12,000 soldiers as stated by United Nationals Security Council Resolution 2010. We hope to work with the European Union (EU) and the African Union to bring stability to this troubled area.
