30 Sept 2011 – Daily Monitoring Report
Key Headlines:
- AMISOM enhances provision of basic needs to the needy families in IDP Camps
- Somali prime minister addresses ICG meeting in Copenhagen
- Arab parliamentarians call for immediate Somalia aid
- Somali forces al Shabaab battle in southern border town
- Somali gov’t recognizes Libya’s NTC
- Al Shabaab destroy English and Somali business billboards
PRESS STATEMENT
AMISOM enhances provision of basic needs to needy families in IDP Camps
30 Sept – Source: AMISOM – 361 words
Yesterday 29th September 2011, the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Commission (DSRCC), Honorable Wafula Wamunyinyi, launched a project which will focus on teaching best hygiene practices while also providing dry food and non-food items to the Internally Displaced Persons.
Flanked by AMISOM Senior Humanitarian Affairs Officer Abdul Diabagate, Hon. Wafula said that, in view of the gravity of the situation in Somalia, the launching of this project will contribute to the improvement of the current worsening situation regarding child mortality caused by malnutrition and unsanitary conditions in Wadajir district.
In collaboration with the Somali Women Development Center (SWDC) and CIMIC, AMISOM Humanitarian Affairs Unit conducted an assessment of thirty nine households who moved from different districts to take refuge in a safer area near AMISOM base. They came from the districts of Elasha-Afgoi Corridor, Yaqshid, Bondhere, Karan, Wardhigley, Howl Wadag and Hoadan.
Among the major challenges confronting them include lack of basic needs such as food, clean water, proper shelters, clothes, etc. Ninety percent of them are children and women. Due to lack of proper hygiene and nutrition, most of the children now face a wide range of health concerns such as diarrhea, measles, etc.
The launching ceremony was attended by the Mayor of Mogadishu, Mahmoud Tarzan, the Deputy District Commissioner of Wadajir, members of the implementing agency (SWDC), representatives of CIMIC, and AMISOM senior officers.
On behalf of the African Union and the Special Representative of the Mission, Deputy SRCC thanked the Mayor and the Deputy Director of SWDC for their continued support to the Somalis living in Mogadishu.
“I urge SWDC to expend the funds for the intended purpose in order to provide services to those in need. The funds should be fully accounted for. I assure you of AMISOM’s commitment to support Somalia and I hope that reconstruction and stabilization will be achieved”, he said. Doing more to address the needs of those vulnerable families is one way to address the challenges that can create safety risks. AMISOM continues to support provision of basic needs to IDPs at risk and advocate for other solutions as well. The project is funded by the European Commission.
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali prime minister addresses ICG meeting in Copenhagen
30 Sept – Source: Radio Mogadishu, Shabelle and Kulmiye – 170 words
The Prime Minister of Somalia, Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali has attended a meeting organized by International Contact Group which was held in the Danish capital of Copenhagen. Officials from a large number of countries took part in the ICG meeting, as well as regional administrations in Somalia and TFG officials.
The Somali premier said his government made major developments in its battle against what he called the al Qaeda’s proxy in the horn of African nation and highlighted the fact that the government forces with the help of AU peacekeepers managed to dislodge al Shabaab from Mogadishu.
He mentioned that some of world nations reacted quickly as soon as famine declared in many parts of Somalia, according to Eng. Abdurrahman Omar Osman, the Information Advisor for the prime minister of Somalia.
Somali forces, al Shabaab battle in southern border town
30 Sept – Source: Radio Shabelle, Risala – 106 words
Heavy fighting is currently taking place in Dobley village in Lower Jubba Region, southern Somalia, between al Shabaab militants and government forces along with Ras Kiamboni group fighters. Both sides are using different kinds of weapons in the fierce fighting which erupted few hours ago in Dobley. The fighting started when al Shabaab militants ambushed government bases in the area. Communication services in Dobley are currently off air. Contradictory reports claim al Shabaab have taken over the control of the town. Local residents in neighboring areas told radio Shabelle that the fighting is still going on and that they could hear the sounds of the fighting. The number of casualties remains unknown.
Arab parliamentarians call for immediate Somalia aid
30 Sept – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 122 words
Members of parliament from various Arab nations have agreed on the need for quicker support to drought and famine-hit Somali people after meeting in Qatar. Some Somali legislators represented Somalia for the meeting. Prof. Mohamed Omar Dalha, one of the Somali legislators who attended the meeting told Bar-kulan that they delivered a speech detailing the current situation in Somalia during the meeting. He said the humanitarian crisis in Somalia was one of the main subjects of the meeting. He added that the members also called for immediate humanitarian aid including food, medicines and other necessities for Somalia and other neighboring countries in the region which are facing the worst in six decades. The meeting also discussed the recent Arab uprisings in Middle East and North Africa.
Somali students in Turkey to get better education
29 Sept – Source: Horseed Media – 228 words
A group of Somali students has arrived in Istanbul after winning scholarships to study in Turkey. The Somali Minister of Education & Culture Ahmed Aidid Ibrahim also came to Istanbul together with those 309 Somali youths. Ibrahim said at the airport that they were grateful to the Turkish people and state for giving a helping hand to Somali people.
Earlier, Turkish charity organizations “Kimse Yok Mu” and “Nil Organization” launched a campaign and provided 309 Somali students, including 60 female students, with scholarships in seven different provinces in Turkey. One of the female students, Nesra al-Hussein, said that she wanted to be a doctor to help her people.
Meanwhile, Turkish people have so far collected a total of 498.1 million Turkish liras in donations for Somalia, the Turkish Prime Ministry Disaster & Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD) announced on Tuesday.
As of 5.00 p.m. yesterday, AFAD had collected 107.5 million TL and Turkish Religious Affairs Authority had collected 198 million TL, while 192.6 million TL had been collected in several other campaigns launched across the country, AFAD said.
http://horseedmedia.net/2011/
13 children die of famine in Alamada village
30 Sept – Source: Somalia report – 82 words
At least ten people, mostly children, have died from hunger and diseases over the last 24 hours while some 60 were reportedly in serious condition in the outskirts of Mogadishu. Abdiaziz Guled, a chairman of Alla-magan IDP in Alamada village told Somalia Report that about sixteen children have died in the last two days while three of them were from the same families. Other cases of deaths of IDP’s have been reported in Mogadishu, including Abagado, Badbado, Howlwadaag and Hamar-jajab.
Bulo Burde Bridge restored
30 Sept – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 107 words
Bula Burde Bridge is now back in operation after remaining closed for the last one and half month for renovations. Local traders in Hiiraan region spent $62,000 to restore the dilapidated bridge serving parts of the region. The money used to renovate the bridge was contributed by local traders in Bula Burde and Beledweyne towns. During the 45 days of renovation, locals were using small boats donated by an aid agency, DRC, to cross the river. The bridge connects Hiiraan region to other parts of the country including northern Somalia cities.
Somalia’s Disaster Agency: IDPs’ security will be assured
30 Sept – Source: Shabelle – 151 words
The Somali National Disaster Management on Friday said the security of famine victims and IDPs in Mogadishu will be assured. In press conference in Mogadishu, Abdihakim Yusuf Guled, the Deputy Chairman of National Disaster management for supplies said more efforts are done to protect Somali famine victims in the internally displaced persons’ camps. Somalia’s capital is now swollen with thousands of new refugees fleeing the drought. Moreover, women in camps in Mogadishu are being raped and not enough is being done to keep them safe. Food aid was looted in Badbado IDPs camps and some IDPs were killed or injured, forcing most of the famine victims to leave because of insecurity.
http://www.shabelle.net/
REGIONAL MEDIA
Al Shabaab destroy English and Somali business billboards
30 Sept – Source: Daily Monitor – 275 words
Al Shabaab militants yesterday destroyed business billboards with non-Arabic scripts at Eelasha Biyaha Area, a strip of land in the southern outskirts of Mogadishu, where most people who fled the wars in the Somali capital had set up shelter and businesses. The masked fighters stated that businesses in the affected area were ordered to remove English and Somali lettering from their billboards by September 30 of the Muslim month of Shawal, which coincides with September 28.
Failure to comply with the order landed at least 12 prominent traders in al Shabaab custody, according to residents who contacted Kulmiye, a popular broadcaster in Mogadishu. “The hostility against the merchants who resisted removing English and Somali scripts from their billboards inculcates fear in the business community,” a resident, who preferred anonymity, said. The order to use only Arabic on the signposts was given last week and appeared very unpopular.
Other recent unpopular measures by al Shabaab at Eelasha Biyaha area include the removal of the Somali flag from schools and the raising of the Islamist movement’s black banner. Meanwhile, over a hundred families with scant belongings arrived in South Mogadishu on Monday. The large group settled between the main bases of the Burundian contingency of the AU’s Amisom peacekeepers in the Mogadishu, the former Somali National University Campus and the former Kabka factory.
The choice was obviously influenced by security reason and availability of open space. The arrivals testified to have come from Bay and Lower Shabelle, two regions declared by the United Nations as famine zones but fall under the strict rule of al-Shabaab, the radical Islamist group. Al-Shabaab leaders continue to prevent the main humanitarian agencies, including the UN bodies from delivering humanitarian assistance.
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/
Kenya: Security officers in search of kidnapped British woman
29 Sept – Source: Nairobi Star – 210 words
A contingent of police officers is currently at the Kenya-Somalia border trying to gather more information over the kidnap of a Briton from a Lamu hotel. Police sources confirmed that although the team cannot cross over to Somalia due to security concerns, all efforts were being made to ensure that Judith Tebutt, 56, who was kidnapped from Kiwayu Safari Village Hotel weeks ago is found.
Her husband David, 58, was killed during the incident. The Coast Provincial police boss Ambrose Munyasia said GSU and other security agents were involved in the operation. “So far, we have no information as regards to her whereabouts, but we are still trying to get every information that we can from the ground and beyond,” he said.
His statement was corroborated by the Anti Terror Police Unit boss Mwaniki Njiru, who said that investigations were ongoing. “We have so far managed to take some suspects to court and that is not enough. Our investigations are still ongoing and we would not like to pre-empt the same,” Njiru added. Two Kenyans, Ali Babitoo Kololo and Issa Sheck Saadi have been separately charged in connection to the kidnap. They have denied robbery with violence and kidnap charges, and are still detained at the Hindi prison in Lamu. http://www.the-star.co.ke/
UAE Red Crescent sends vital supplies to Somalia
30 Sept – Source: Gulf News – 68 words
A Red Crescent Authority ship carrying 1,400 tones of aid relief material has arrived in Mogadishu, to assist all the drought victims in Somalia. The aid materials include food, medical supplies, tents, and other accommodation materials. The shipment was sent upon the directives of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to offer all the needs of Somalia’s people who were hit badly by the drought.
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somali gov’t recognizes Libya’s NTC
30 Sept – Source: Xinhua – 212 words
Somali government has announced that it recognize the National Transitional Council (NTC) of Libya as the rightful representative of the people in the North African country, a government statement said Friday.
The Somali government ministers following their ordinary weekly meeting in the Somali capital Mogadishu said after debating the government official stance regarding the Libyan situation, the ministers said they agreed to recognize the NTC.
Fighters of the NTC have forced the authority of Muammar Gaddafi out of Libyan capital of Tripoli following months of battles with loyalists of the North African country’s leader. “Somali government recognizes the National Transitional Council as the rightful representative of the Libyan people,” said the government statement.
Somali government has until now been quite about its stance towards what was happening in Libya where forces of the Transitional council were battling with Gaddafi loyalists who are still holding out in the town of Sirte, birthplace of the Libyan leader. The African Union has also recognized the Transitional council as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people.
Somali government, which propped up by nearly 9,000 AU peacekeepers, is fighting deadly Islamist insurgency controls only most of the Somali capital as well as parts of the southern provinces while Islamist rebels run much of the south of the horn of African country.
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/
EU warship destroys suspect whaler
30 Sept – Source: Xinhua – 240 words
European Union naval force said its warship destroyed a suspicious whaler close to a beach off Somalia, 100 nautical miles southwest of Mogadishu. Naval Force spokesperson Harrie Harrison said a helicopter was dispatched on Friday to inspect and found the whaler loaded with equipment usually related to piracy on board.
”No crew was seen on board. Consequently, the whaler was destroyed to prevent any potential future use for piracy,” Harrison said in a statement on Saturday. ”This action continues EU NAVFOR’s robust stance against piracy and the intention to interdict and disrupt pirate activity, ” he said.
The pirates have increased their activity along Gulf of Aden, a body of water between Somalia and Yemen, which is the main sea route between Europe and Asia.Tankers carrying Middle East oil through the Suez Canal must pass first through the Gulf of Aden. About 4 percent of the world’s daily oil supply is shipped through the gulf.
The attacks are being carried out by increasingly well- coordinated Somali gangs armed with automatic weapons and rocket- propelled grenades, maritime officials said. The Horn of Africa nation has been without a functioning government since 1991, and remains one of the world’s most violent and lawless countries.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/
Netherlands embraces two-track aid for Somalia
30 Sept – Source: Radio Netherlands Worldwide – 625 words
Tens of thousands of people have died as the result of severe drought in the Horn of Africa, and hundreds of thousands have been made refugees, looking for food. The international community has stepped in, but emergency aid is only a stop-gap measure. Somalia is the worst affected country. The Netherlands is doing its part to ease Somalia’s current humanitarian crisis. The bigger question is how to help the shattered country emerge from 20 years of civil war and poor governance.
Dutch Deputy Minister for Development Aid Ben Knapen paid a brief visit to the Somali capital Mogadishu earlier this month, and said he would make another 10 million euros available for emergency aid.
But he wants to do more. Mr Knapen says EU donor countries need to work together more efficiently, and is calling for an EU representative for the Horn of Africa to oversee the coordination of aid. In particular, he listed four areas where European countries could co-operate more efficiently: food aid, controlling the flow of refugees, fighting piracy and counter-terrorism. “If you add this all up it could be useful to have a special envoy for the Horn of Africa whose job is to make sure the left hand knows what the right hand is doing.”
Aid to Somalia is difficult and complex. Since Mohamed Siad Barre’s government fell in 1991 and the withdrawal of US forces in 1994, the international community has struggled to find a way to help the country. In 2004, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) became the focal point of international aid. But the TFG never managed to gain legitimacy in Somalia itself, and is now caught up in a struggle with the Islamist group al-Shabaab. Even with the help of African Union soldiers, the TFG does not control much territory outside Mogadishu.
So now the Netherlands has decided to embrace the so-called two-track approach to helping Somalia – continuing to provide assistance to the Transitional Federal Government, while at the same time finding ways to help local authorities. The Netherlands has already helped fund the construction of a parliament building in the autonomous region of Somaliland.
Green Left MP Arjan el-Fassed is pleased with the new approach: “The Dutch government has been investing in the transitional government. We’ve seen that it has failed miserably. And we know Somali society is made up of tribes and clans and in such a situation the more you invest in central authority, the more you aggravate conflicts at the local level. That’s why it’s better to build up from a local level, rather than from top down.” If anything, Mr. el-Fassed wants to see even more of the bottom-up approach.
A development aid worker who frequently travels in Somalia went even further (he asked to remain anonymous to protect the people he works with there). He told Radio Netherlands Worldwide that the international community should stop working with the TFG altogether. He says the TFG and the African Union forces in Mogadishu are corrupt, that infighting is rampant, and that they are committing human rights abuses. It is difficult to distribute aid in TFG controlled territory, he continued, and foreign investors say they actually prefer doing business in regions controlled by al-Shabaab.
But the Netherlands, along with the European Union, continues to support the TFG and the African Union. Deputy Minister Knapen says he is pleased that the AU forces have driven ‘the terrorists’ from Mogadishu. But in the search for a short term solution to piracy, terrorism and refugees, the Netherlands and the EU run the risk of trying to place the transitional government in the best light possible. Thereby making a long-term solution to two decades of lawlessness in Somalia even more unlikely.
http://www.rnw.nl/english/