A/HRC/12/44 page 21 98. The international community should consider providing scholarships to Somali students, particularly those staying in refugee camps in Kenya and Yemen. Long years of armed conflict have taken a heavy toll on education in Somalia. There will be a serious dearth of educated and trained staff to assist in running the affairs of the State when peace returns. 99. To facilitate the involvement of all States, large or small, rich or poor, in supporting the process of peace, reconciliation and reconstruction in Somalia, it is important to bring the plight of the people of Somalia into focus. The independent expert is deeply pained at the ignorance of otherwise knowledgeable people about the situation in Somalia. For most, it is another problem in another place. Most are not aware of the gravity of the situation in Somalia and the terrible human rights and humanitarian law abuses that have been taking place there for so long. Ways and means must be found to change this state of affairs. The organization of a special session of the Human Rights Council would be a good start. The efforts made by the independent expert to raise the profile of the crisis have, it seems, failed to make an impact to date. C. For the United Nations 100. In Somalia, the United Nations is faced with one of its most difficult challenges. On the one hand, it has the task of negotiating peace in a country long ridden by armed conflict; on the other, the difficulties it faces relating to activities in the field of human rights, humanitarian assistance, recovery and development. To date it has done a reasonably good job, given the circumstances, but could certainly do a better one. 101. While the peace process is being ably advanced by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, the independent expert would only recommend that serious considerations be given by him and others to finding ways and means to involve and ensure the full support of the Puntland and Somaliland authorities in the process. It will be important to have their full support for all United Nations activities in Somalia. The Governments of Puntland and Somaliland already host a number of important United Nations activities, such as the training of police and security forces and of members of correctional and judicial services, which will have an important bearing on the future of Somalia. United Nations agencies should now begin their long-awaited move to undertake their activities for Somalia from within the country itself, by making Puntland and Somaliland the hubs of their activities. This will have a psychological impact on the people which would be important for the success of the peace process in Somalia. The independent expert is pleased that the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General recently visited Somaliland and that the Special Representative will be visiting Puntland in early September, after the signing of the agreement between the Transitional Federal Government and Puntland in August 2009. 102. The independent expert welcomes the efforts made by UNPOS to progressively increase the presence of its human rights officers in Somalia, through its frequent missions to Somaliland and Puntland, and to Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia when security permits. The independent expert hopes that this will lead, in the shortest possible time, to the establishment of their presence on the ground on an enduring basis. The independent expert has noted the increase in the number of staff of the UNPOS Human Rights Unit and