Escalating Conflict in Somalia Undermines Sustainable Development Goals

Impact on SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 1 (No Poverty)

• Intensified clashes in the Hiraan and Gedo regions have severely undermined peace and security, directly contravening the objectives of SDG 16.
• The conflict has resulted in significant forced displacement, pushing populations into conditions of extreme vulnerability and poverty, which is a major setback for SDG 1.
  1. Over 28,000 people were displaced from the town of Mahas, Hiraan region.
  2. An additional 38,000 people were displaced in the Gedo region, with some crossing into Kenya.

Setbacks for SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)

• The suspension of operations at seven health facilities in the Hiraan region due to security concerns has left thousands without access to essential healthcare, directly impacting SDG 3.
• Displaced communities are in urgent need of shelter, food, and clean water, highlighting critical gaps in achieving SDG 6 and other fundamental human needs.

Challenges to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

• Humanitarian access is restricted, limiting the ability of aid partners to operate effectively.
• A severe funding shortfall poses a significant challenge to global partnerships. The 2024 humanitarian plan for Somalia, requiring $1.4 billion, is only 16% funded, with just $229 million received.

Public Health Crisis in Haiti Threatens Health and Sanitation Goals

Cholera Outbreak as a Direct Challenge to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

• A persistent cholera outbreak continues to strain Haiti’s fragile public health system, representing a direct threat to SDG 3.
• From 13 to 19 July, 34 new suspected cases were reported across six departments.
• Since December 2024, over 2,800 suspected cases have been recorded, resulting in 91 laboratory-confirmed cases and 36 fatalities.

The Critical Role of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)

• The outbreak is heavily concentrated in sites hosting displaced people, where limited access to safe water and sanitation is a primary driver of transmission.
• This situation underscores the direct link between the lack of progress on SDG 6 and negative public health outcomes.
• Humanitarian partners are responding by distributing water purification tablets and installing handwashing stations to mitigate the crisis and advance SDG 6.

Obstacles to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

• Haiti’s multiple crises, including political instability and rampant gang activity, create a volatile environment that impedes the development of strong institutions (SDG 16) necessary for a resilient public health infrastructure.

UN Establishes Expert Committee to Align Tax Policy with Sustainable Development

Strengthening SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

• The UN Secretary-General has appointed 25 experts to the UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters.
• This initiative directly supports SDG 17 by fostering international cooperation and SDG 16 by helping governments build effective and accountable institutions for tax policy and administration.

Advancing Economic and Social Goals (SDG 1, SDG 8, SDG 10)

• The committee’s primary objective is to assist countries in designing tax policies that advance their development objectives.
• Effective tax systems are crucial for mobilizing domestic resources to fund programs aimed at reducing poverty (SDG 1), promoting decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), and reducing inequalities (SDG 10).

Commitment to SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and Inclusivity

• The newly appointed committee for the 2025-2029 term has a majority of female members.
• This composition reflects a commitment to strengthening inclusivity and advancing SDG 5 by promoting women’s leadership in global economic governance.

Relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  The article highlights the urgent needs of displaced populations in Somalia for basic necessities like shelter, food, and water, which are fundamental aspects of poverty alleviation. The disruption of livelihoods due to conflict pushes people into extreme vulnerability.

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  The need for food is explicitly mentioned as an urgent requirement for the over 66,000 people displaced in Somalia, connecting the conflict directly to food insecurity and the goal of achieving zero hunger.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This goal is central to the issues in both Somalia and Haiti. In Somalia, the closure of seven health facilities denies thousands access to essential healthcare. In Haiti, the cholera outbreak, with its associated cases and fatalities, represents a major public health crisis.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The article mentions that the majority of the 25 experts appointed to the UN Committee on International Cooperation in Tax Matters are women, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity and women’s leadership in global policy-making.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The cholera outbreak in Haiti is directly linked to limited access to safe water and sanitation, particularly in sites for displaced people. The response efforts, such as distributing water purification tablets and installing handwashing stations, directly address this SDG.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The focus on vulnerable groups, such as displaced populations in Somalia and Haiti, addresses the need to reduce inequalities. The appointment of experts from diverse geographical regions to the tax committee also aims to ensure more inclusive global economic governance.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The displacement of over 28,000 people from the town of Mahas and the urgent need for shelter for affected communities in Somalia relate to the goal of ensuring access to adequate and safe housing.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This is a core theme of the article. The clashes in Somalia and the political and security crisis involving gang activity in Haiti are direct examples of violence and institutional fragility that undermine peace and development.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article discusses this goal from two angles: the severe funding shortfall for the humanitarian plan in Somalia, highlighting a gap in global partnerships for aid, and the creation of the UN tax committee to help countries strengthen domestic resource mobilization for sustainable development.

Specific SDG Targets

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases. The cholera outbreak in Haiti is a clear example of a water-borne disease epidemic that this target aims to end.
   • Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks. The suspension of health facilities in Somalia weakens this capacity, while the response to cholera in Haiti is an attempt to manage a health risk.

2. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. The article states that displaced people in Haiti have limited access to safe water, which is the root cause of the cholera outbreak.
   • Target 6.2: By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation. The limited sanitation in displacement sites in Haiti and the installation of handwashing stations are directly related to this target.

3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. The clashes in Somalia and rampant gang activity in Haiti are the forms of violence this target seeks to reduce.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.1: Strengthen domestic resource mobilization, including through international support to developing countries, to improve domestic capacity for tax and other revenue collection. The creation of the UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters is a direct action to support countries in achieving this target.

Implied or Mentioned Indicators

• Indicator for Target 3.3 (End epidemics):

  The article provides specific numbers that can be used as indicators to measure the severity of the cholera outbreak in Haiti: “over 2,800 suspected cholera cases,” “91 laboratory-confirmed cases,” and “36 fatalities.” These figures directly measure the incidence and impact of a water-borne disease.

• Indicator for Target 16.1 (Reduce violence):

  The number of people displaced due to conflict is a key indicator of the impact of violence. The article states that “over 28,000 people” were displaced in the Hiraan region and “another 38,000 people were displaced in the Gedo region,” providing a quantifiable measure of the conflict’s human cost.

• Indicator for Target 17.2 (ODA commitments):

  The article provides a clear financial indicator for the status of humanitarian aid partnerships for Somalia. It states that the “$1.4 billion humanitarian plan…is around 16 per cent funded,” which measures the gap between the required financial resources and the official development assistance received.

• Indicator for Target 5.5 (Ensure women’s participation in leadership):

  The article implies an indicator by stating that the “majority” of the 25 experts appointed to the UN tax committee “are women.” This points to the proportion of women in decision-making bodies as a measure of progress towards gender equality in leadership.

Summary of Findings

Source: news.un.org