02 Aug 2011 – Morning headlines
Key Headlines:
- AMISOM foils suicide attack in Mogadishu
- TFG forces carry out security operations in Mogadishu
- Heavy fighting rocks parts of Gedo region
- Islamic militants launch Ramadan offensive in famine-stricken Somalia
- Somalis waste away as insurgents block escape from famine
- AU force presses offensive to ease Somali food aid
- Up to six more Somalia regions may face famine-UN
- South Africa raises funds resources for famine relief
- Battle rages near Somali refugee camp
PRESS STATEMENT
AMISOM foils suicide attack in Mogadishu
01 Aug – Source: AMISOM- 165 words
Two suicide bombers dressed in Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) uniform were killed today before they were able to detonate their suicide vests. They had attempted to infiltrate behind the frontline held by AMISOM in Mogadishu.
The incident happened behind the frontline, in Wardhigley district, near Florenza Junction. In an exchange of gunfire with the suicide bombers two AMISOM soldiers were wounded but died later of their injuries. The incident happened at approximately 4pm today.
Lt Col Paddy Ankunda, AMISOM Force spokesperson said;
“In the midst of a famine seizing Somalia the extremists arechoosing to focus on killing, not saving life.
“The extremists are using desperate measures to achieve theirends through their willingness to use brutal violence during the Holy Month ofRamadan. Make no mistake, we will not allow this sort of terrorism to succeed.
Somalia: Over 160,000 receiving ICRC food aid
01 Aug – Source: ICRC- 348 words
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is currently distributing food to 162,000 people in areas affected by drought and armed violence in southern and central Somalia. This is the first large-scale food distribution in that part of the country since the beginning of the year.
http://www.icrc.org/eng/
SOMALI MEDIA
Puntland marks its 13 anniversary today
01 Aug – Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 86 words
The 13th anniversary of Somalia State of Puntland has been celebrated in several parts of the state. Puntland’s president Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamud Farole led the semi-autonomous State in marking its 13th anniversary, a significant day in the history of Puntland.
Heavy fighting rocks parts of Gedo region
01 Aug – Source: Shabelle- 120 words
Heavy fighting between Somali forces allied with Ahlu Sunna Waljama and Al shabaab fighters on Monday occurred in the village of Busar near Elwak town of Gedo region in southern Somalia.
https://docs.google.com/Doc?
TFG forces carry out security operations in Mogadishu
01 Aug- Source Radio Mogadishu, Somaliareport- 49 words
Somali national forces kicked off security operations in Mogadishu districts recently seized from al Shabaab. A senior official of the Somali forces, General Ali Yare Osoble, told radio Mogadishu that the security forces are inspecting homes and streets to secure the areas.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Islamic Charitable Organization renews appeal for urgent aid to famine-hit Somalia
01 Aug- Source: Kuwait News Agency- 230 words
Following a field visit to affected areas, the International Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO) on Monday renewed warnings of a wide-scale famine in the draught-plagued Horn of Africa.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Battle rages near Somali refugee camp
01 Aug – Source: UPI, ABC – 113 words
Somalia’s al Shabaab battled African peacekeepers near a refugee camp outside Mogadishu as the group continued to block aid Sunday, witnesses said.
Islamic militants launch Ramadan offensive in famine-stricken Somalia
01 Aug- Source: CNN, SABC- 321 words
The Islamic militant group al Shabaab launched a Ramadan offensive Monday amid spreading famine in Somalia, the African Union said.
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/
2 AU troops die during suicide bomb raid
01 Aug – Source: AP, Reuters – 119 words
A military official says two African Union soldiers were killed after troops shot two suicide bombers in Mogadishu, who then detonated their explosives.
http://www.boston.com/news/
Somali famine refugees begin Ramadan fast
01 Aug – Source: Reuters – 672 words
Somalia’s famine refugees, weakened by months of drought, on Monday began Islam’s punishing Ramadan fast amid the tents and shacks of the world’s largest refugee camp.
http://af.reuters.com/article/
Up to six more Somalia regions may face famine-UN
01 Aug – Source: Reuters – 456 words
The famine in the Horn of Africa is spreading and may soon engulf as many as six more regions of the lawless nation of Somalia, the U.N. humanitarian aid chief said on Monday.
http://af.reuters.com/article/
AU force presses offensive to ease Somali food aid
01 Aug – Source: VOA – 271 words
African Union troops remain on the offensive in Somalia in an effort to ease the flow of food aid to the famine-stricken country.
Somalis waste away as insurgents block escape from famine
01 Aug – Source: New York Times – 1276
The Shabaab Islamist insurgent group, which controls much of southern Somalia, is blocking starving people from fleeing the country and setting up a cantonment camp where it is imprisoning displaced people who were trying to escape Shabaab territory.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/
South Africa raises funds, resources for famine relief
01 Aug – Source: VOA – 355 words
An official of South Africa’s foreign ministry Clayson Monyela said South Africans and private institutions have been “generously” donating money and other resources to relief efforts in East Africa.
Botswana to begin sending aid to Somali refugees
01 Aug – Source: VOA – 190
Botswana plans to ship relief items to Somali refugee camps in Kenya this week. Government spokesman Jeff Ramsay said “[The administration] announced it will fly food aid to Kenya refugee camps to help in assisting the people of both Kenya and Somalia.”
Red Cross calls for more aid as supplies reach Somali famine victims
01 Aug – Source: Guardian – 459 words
Significant amounts of food aid is being distributed in Somalia’s famine zone for the first time since the crisis became acute, according to aid agencies, though more will be required in the coming months.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/
BLOGS/EDITORIAL/CULTURE
In the Somalia famine, al Shabaab shows it fanaticism
01 Aug – Source: Globe and Mail – 301 words
Al-Shabab, the Islamist militia that has been the closest thing to a government in southern Somalia for some years, has destroyed whatever legitimacy it had, by obstructing humanitarian organizations from entering the country to provide relief from the severe famine.