Brussels, 18/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - The European Union reaction to the seizure and detention of Mr Idris Osman, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Officer in Charge in Somalia has been strong and indignant. The WFP is one of the EU's major humanitarian partners.
In a statement published on Wednesday 17 October, the EU presidency “strongly condemns” the actions “by members of the Somali National Security Service” and “urges the Transitional Federal Government to ensure the immediate and unconditional release” of Osman. “The UN plays a leading role in the coordination and distribution of international support to Somalia and its presence in the country is indispensable to alleviate the serious humanitarian situation. The WFP in particular is vital in the distribution of food aid in Mogadishu and in other parts of Somalia. The detention of Mr Idris Osman is an inexcusable violation of UN privileges and immunities. Furthermore, it imperils the action of the international community as a whole to come to the aid of the people of Somalia,” the statement goes on. (A.N.)