The UN relief chief John Holmes is visiting Somalia on Saturday to assess humanitarian situation in the areas affected by the recent fighting between the transitional government troops and insurgents.

A statement from the UN Information Center (UNIC) said on Saturday that Holmes, the UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and the Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC), is scheduled to hold talks with the transitional government authorities and members of the civil society.

The statement said the UN relief chief will use his May 12 to 13 visit to raise international awareness and support for Somalia so as to address and respond to the humanitarian tragedy that is unfolding in the country, it said.

"The objective of Holmes' visit is to commit parties in Somalia, including military actors, to respect the provisions of International Humanitarian Law (including the protection of civilians and respect for human rights), and to foster peace and stability in the interest of the Somali people," the statement said.

"Holmes will secure with the authorities all the necessary support to enable full and unhindered humanitarian access to populations in dire need of assistance and protection, and secure full respect for the neutral, impartial and independent nature of all humanitarian activities," the statement said.

Holmes will be the highest ranking UN official to visit the Horn of Africa nation since the outbreak of hostilities which claimed more than 100 lives and displaced 400,000 civilians.

Since Ethiopian-backed transitional government troops seized the capital Mogadishu from Islamist fighters, the government has moved slowly to fill the security vacuum.

Source: Xinhua