REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, NEW YORK -- A UN envoy has welcomed the recent military advance by the Somali National Army (SNA) and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in south-central Somalia where they regained control of key towns and areas from Al Shabaab, a UN spokesman said here Wednesday.

"Kay said the UN and international partners had begun addressing humanitarian needs where access is possible. He added that Somalis living in areas now under government control should quickly receive better security and justice, services such as health and education and a decent livelihood," Farhan Haq, the deputy UN spokesman, said at a daily news briefing here.

The SNA and AMISOM have been pursuing a renewed offensive against Al Shabaab insurgents, who in 2011 were forced to retreat from the Somali capital of Mogadishu.

In a briefing to the UN Security Council last week, Kay said that the new offensive is "the most significant and geographically extensive military advance" since AMISOM was created in 2007.

Noting that fighting has affected civilian populations, the envoy said today that the United Nations and international partners have begun addressing humanitarian needs where access is possible and needs are assessed.

"Somalis living in areas now under government control should quickly receive what they need: better security and justice, services such as health and education and a decent livelihood," Kay said.

He welcomed contributions made by international partners to the government's efforts to ensure all Somalis benefit from peace and stability, and called for more international support.

"This is a turning point in Somalia's struggle to bring lasting peace to all its people," Kay said. "Its friends and partners need to act quickly and generously."

He added that the UN is supporting the stabilization efforts, including by immediately making available 3 million U.S. dollars from its Peacebuilding Fund, which provides financing to jump- start rebuilding projects in countries emerging from conflict.

After decades of factional fighting, new Somali national institutions emerged in 2012, as the Horn of Africa country ended a transitional phase toward setting up a permanent, democratically- elected government.

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