The women’s centers, in particular, should help improve the well-being of Somali women along the coast, and should serve as a catalyst for women to assume greater responsibility in their social, political and economic lives.

The humanitarian emergency response by the UN country team, including UNHCR, has gradually shifted from emergency response to recovery and rehabilitation and, where feasible, towards development.

The recovery efforts have already helped to bring the region back to its pre-tsunami conditions.

Now longer-term development programs are being prepared and initial projects are already being implemented.