Addis Ababa, 30 January 2016: H.E. Dr. Aisha Laraba Abdullahi, Commissioner for Political Affairs of the African Union Commission met with H.E.MrFilippoGrandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The UN Assistant Secretary General was accompanied by the Director of Africa Region Branch of the UNHCR and other staffs.

The Commissioner for Political Affairs welcomed H.E. Mr Filippo Grandiand congratulated him for being elected as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

She also thanked him and his delegation for visiting the Department of Political Affairs (DPA) of the African Union Commission (AUC) and their continuous support to the DPA in the area of humanitarian assistance.

Dr. Abdullahi briefed the Delegationon the humanitarian situation in Africa which apart from being characterized by conflict, political instability, and terrorism, is getting worse by some environmental challenges such as El nino phenomenon , Famine, Drought , and flood.In this regards Dr Abdullahi requested the UNHCR to focus more on Africa particularly in Somalia, Burundi and the Sahel Region in the area of Humanitarian Assistance.

H.E. Mr Filippo Grandi committed to provide support in human resource to the Department and also specific capacity building programmes to the DPA on Humanitarian Effectiveness; Transformation through Innovation; Reducing Vulnerability and Managing Risk .

H.E. Dr. Abdullahi also responded to questions on theCommon African Position on humanitarian effectiveness, and AUC level of preparation for the World Humanitarian Summit to be held in Istanbul, Turkey in May 2016 whichis organized around four thematic areas: Humanitarian Effectiveness; Transformation through Innovation; Reducing Vulnerability and Managing Risk and Serving the needs of people in conflict.

Dr. Abdullahi further made a reference to the follow up mechanism after the Istanbul Summit that consist of a 10 year action plan to be implemented through future Africa Humanitarian Agency. She also praise the continuous efforts made by others Africans countries in hosting refugees and providing them all necessary needs .

The Commissioner also briefed the Delegation on “Project 2016” and its activities and programmes, the Kigali meeting as well as about the fives (5) upcoming election observation in Africa in February as well as the updates on issues on constitutionalism and terms limit in Africa.

For more information please contact Mr. Yusuf Mohammed/ Office of the Commissioner for Political Affairs/ Mohammedy@africa-union.org /Tel: +251-11-551 77 00