The current political and humanitarian situations in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East, and their human toll in terms of suffering and displacement, particularly in Somalia and Syria, are of great concern. During 2011, countries in the Horn of Africa continued to face significant developmental and humanitarian challenges. Ongoing drought in the region has resulted in over 12 million people being in desperate need of assistance. Ongoing and protracted conflict, particularly in Somalia, has caused untold suffering for millions of people. Over 250,000 people there are estimated by the UN to be living in famine conditions. At the same time, millions more across the region continue to live with the effects of natural disasters and their legacies.
The EU and Member States have supported the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) since its launch in March 2007 through the African Union's African Peace Facility (AFP). As a regional peace-keeping mission, it is mandated to support transitional Governmental structures, implement a national security plan, train the Somali security forces, and to assist in creating a secure environment for the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Ireland, through the provision of Mission Commander and a number of Irish Permanent Defence Forces members has been directly involved in the EU Training Mission (EUTM) which is contributing to strengthening the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia as a functioning Government serving the Somali population and aims to build regional capacity in the medium term. This is a very practical expression of our commitment to peace and stability there.
A more positive picture is evident in Ethiopia and Kenya. In these two countries the authorities have worked hard over many years to build resilience and enhance the coping mechanisms of those vulnerable to external shocks or disasters. Due in part to support from Ireland and others, Kenya and Ethiopia have taken steps to protect their populations from the worst effects of the regional crisis.
The Government remains actively involved at the EU and UN levels in pushing for a strongly coordinated approach to address the many challenges in the region. In response to the fragile political and humanitarian situation, the EU in November 2011 adopted a Strategic Framework to guide the EU's engagement in the region. In order to ensure that the actions proposed in the framework are implemented, the EU recently appointed a Special Representative (EUSR) who, in close consultation with the EUSR for Sudan and South Sudan, will contribute to the EU's regional approach to the interrelated challenges facing the Horn. With regard the Middle East, I have on a number of occasions stated clearly my grave concerns at the deteriorating situation in Syria and condemned the unacceptable violence and repression which is now estimated to have claimed some 7,000 lives since last March. In my address to the Security Council in New York on 9 February, I described the current situation in Syria as completely intolerable and condemned the appalling suffering of the Syrian people at the hands of the Assad regime. I also discussed the situation with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon and US Deputy Secretary of State Burns during the course of my visit to the United States.
Given the serious implications for regional peace and security, it is deeply regrettable that the Security Council has so far been unable to speak with a single voice on Syria, in failing to pass a Resolution on 4 February which otherwise commanded the full support of the Council. The ramifications of this failure have been made painfully clear in the weeks since, as the violence in Syria, and in particular the appalling attacks on the civilian population in cities such as Homs, Bab Amr and Hama, has increased significantly. There is a desperate need for humanitarian access, including medical assistance, to citizens in these areas.
I welcome the continued strong leadership of the Arab League as well as the UN Secretary General and others in the international community who are striving to end the violence in Syria. The initial meeting of the Friends of Syria Group in Tunisia on 24 February, which will be attended by Arab League Foreign Ministers as well as EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and US Secretary of State Clinton amongst others, will provide a timely opportunity to consider next steps and to bring together representatives of Syria's fragmented peaceful opposition.
At UN level, Ireland and all EU partners voted in favour of a UN General Assembly Resolution on 16 February which was supported by an overwhelming majority of UN member states. The Resolution condemned human rights violations in Syria, called for an end to the violence in Syria, supported the Arab League peace plan and called on President Assad to resign in order to allow a political transition to begin. The EU is also playing its part, not least through the enactment of tough sanctions against Syria which include a ban on oil imports.