15 Sept 2011 – Morning headlines
Key Headlines:
- Somali Government praises security forces for escorting Turkish aid workers to safety
- UNICEF pledges continued assistance to drought-affected Somalis
- Kenya-Somalia: Breaking with tradition on reproductive health
- Rawlings meets US Ambassador Donald Teitelbaum
- Government overruns checkpoints in Hiiraan region
PRESS STATEMENT
Somali Government praises security forces for escorting Turkish aid workers to safety
14 Sept – Source: TFG – 203 words
The Somali Government has praised its security forces after TFG soldiers discovered three Turkish aid workers traveling in the Afgoye corridor late at night and escorted them to safety. The aid workers were found traveling through Ex Control, a dangerous junction leading to the Afgoye corridor, where East Africa’s leading terrorist, Fazul Abdalla, was killed in June this year, at around 9pm local time on Monday night, September 12th. The aid workers were then taken to Government offices in order to brief and advise them on security matters and to make sure that aid is delivered to the people most in need without compromising the safety of the aid workers themselves.
The Government would like to thank the Government and People of Turkey for the support they are providing to the Somali people, and reassures them that every effort will be taken to ensure the security of Turkish citizens while they are in the country. The Government further reassures other humanitarian organizations and the international community that aid delivery to all areas affected by the drought and famine is welcome and supported. However, the government is determined that the Ministry of Interior and other related agencies are coordinated in advance.
SOMALI MEDIA
Government overruns checkpoints in Hiiraan region
14 Sept – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 108 words
Government troops in Hiiraan region have scrapped-off several illegal checkpoints manned by armed militias at Dira’le village, 35 km from Beledweyne town. Government’s military commander of western side of the region Col. Issack Ali Mohamed confirmed to Bar-kulan the scrapping of the illegal checkpoints, adding that several gangs manning the checkpoints were arrested during the crackdown.
IDPs hold demo for aid corruption in Mogadishu
14 Sept – Source: Mareeg Online, Shabelle – 97 words
Hundreds of IDP’s in Mogadishu have held a demonstration against aid corruption expressing their concern in not finding proper help, reports said.
http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.
Shabelle Valley administration says it will decimate al Shabaab
14 Sept – Source: Shabelle – 84 words
The Shabelle Valley administration, which operates in parts of central Somalia, on Wednesday threatened that it will purge al Shabaab in Hiiraan region. Shabelle Valley’s Minister of Information, Mohamed Nur Agajof told Shabelle Radio that they are committed to decimating al Shabaab fighters which control parts of south-central Somalia.
http://www.shabelle.net/
India pledges aid for Somalia famine
14 Sept – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 174 words
India has announced that it will provide humanitarian assistance of $8 million through the World Food Programme to Somalia and other countries afflicted by the severe drought and famine in the Horn of Africa. India has also contributed $ 1.5 million to the AU Trust Fund on Somalia and $0.5 million to the UN Trust Fund.
Judge killed in Bosaso port town
15 Sept – Source: Shabelle -103 words
An unknown gunman on Wednesday gunned down a court judge in Bosaso, Puntland’s commercial town about 1500 kilometers north of conflict-torn Mogadishu. Witnesses said that Abdinasir Hajji Adam was shot and killed by a man armed with a pistol in the center of Bosaso town. The murderer was arrested shortly after the shooting by the Puntland security forces.
http://shabelle.net/article.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Stigmatized, misunderstood and shackled in Somalia
14 Sept – Source: The Globe and Mail – 68 words
Omar Ibrahin was once a hard-working tailor at his own shop in Mogadishu, sewing uniforms for the army. As he worked, he hummed and sang to himself.
Rawlings meets US Ambassador Donald Teitelbaum
15 Sept – Ghana Web – 232 words
Former President Jerry John Rawlings on Tuesday praised the US for its support for the peace process in Somalia as well as help towards alleviating the humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa. He urged the US not to relent in her efforts, but continue to contribute in diverse ways towards the transitional process in Somalia.
http://www.ghanaweb.com/
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
UNICEF pledges continued assistance to drought-affected Somalis
14 Sept – Source: UN News Centre – 361 words
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will maintain its humanitarian response to the food crisis in Somalia and in camps in neighbouring countries where refugees from the country have sought assistance even with the expected onset of the rainy season.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/
In Somalia ‘seeds of hope and progress have begun to sprout, but they need to be carefully and generously nurtured’, Security Council told
14 Sept – Source: Relief Web – 982 words
Declaring the present a “remarkable moment” for Somalia following recent broad-based agreements, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the East African country appealed to the Security Council yesterday to send an unequivocal message of encouragement to its leadership while firmly opposing any return to political bickering or further extension of the political transition.
http://reliefweb.int/node/
Kenya-Somalia: Breaking with tradition on reproductive health
14 Sept – Source: IRIN News – 689 words
Most Somali women fleeing to northeastern Kenya’s Dadaab in northeastern Kenya have never visited an antenatal clinic, let alone given birth in a hospital. “When I see an expectant mother or one with a small child, I ask them whether they have gone to the hospital.
http://www.irinnews.org/
China calls for further promotion of peace process in Somalia
14 Sept – Source: Xinhua – 170 words
China’s UN Ambassador Li Baodong on Wednesday urged the parties in Somalia to take opportunity to vigorously promote peace process. Li made this call when addressing a Security Council open debate on question of Somalia.