04 Aug 2011 – Daily Monitoring Report
Key Headlines:
- U.S eases rules on al Shabaab to help aid agencies
- Horn of Africa: UNICEF urges airlines to cut costs of delivering aid
- Child ‘drought brides’ sold secretly in Kenya
- IDB approves $1 million relief for Somalia’s drought victims
- Two Kenyan ministers dismiss UN report on terror
- Egyptian medics pledge medical deliveries worth $30000 for Somalia
- UN: More Somali areas hit by famine
- U.S. allows its NGOs operating in the area controlled by Somali militia al Shabaab
- UN Envoy calls on all citizens to pull together to help those suffering
SOMALI MEDIA
U.S eases rules on al Shabaab to help aid agencies
04 Aug – Source: Radio Bar-kulan, Radio Mogadishu and Shabelle – 178 words
The United States has eased rules on relief groups who may need to provide bribes to the terror group al Shabaab to save the lives of 2.2 million people on the brink of starvation in Somalia.
The U.S assured aid agencies that they will not be penalised for programmes in regions controlled by al Shabaab rebels provided the intent of their programmes is to deliver humanitarian to the starving people.
U.S State Department said under new guidelines, non-governmental organizations working in Somalia would be protected “in the event their operations may accidentally benefit al Shabaab militia group.
The designation has complicated international aid efforts for Somalia, where a famine is spreading and some 3.7 million people are in urgent need of assistance in southern regions, many of them in areas controlled by Al-Shabaab.
An official with Oxfam, Shannon Scribner, has urged all those who are party to the Somalia’s current political stalemate including TFG, al Shabaab, the U.S and other donor countries to lift any restrictions that can jeopardize relief operations in Somalia.
Horn of Africa: UNICEF urges airlines to cut costs of delivering aid
03 Aug – Source: Somali National News Agency, Multiple Sources, APA – 640 words
As aid agencies continue to scale up their response to the dire humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is appealing to the air transport sector to provide free and discounted cargo space to bring emergency food supplies into the region.
“Commercial air transport costs as much as the value of the food,” Marixie Mercado, UNICEF’s spokesperson in Geneva, told a news conference there.
British Airways, Lufthansa, UPS Virgin and Cargolux have already offered free or discounted cargo space, and UNICEF is appealing to other carriers to help transport food aid from Europe to the region to help children who will die without it.
http://sonnanews.net/en/read.
Somali pirates release hijacked Somaliland bound oil tanker off Oman without ransom
03 Aug – Source: Somaliland Press – 217 words
A Somaliland bound oil tanker off the Oman waters has been released without ransom by Somali pirates. Clan leaders and the business community from Somaliland and Puntland secured the release of the oil tanker and its crew.
The clan leaders and the businessmen who secured the release of the hijacked tanker have praised the government of Somaliland and the autonomous State of Puntland for their role in facilitating the negotiation with the pirates.
The ship has been refueled and it is now on its way to the Port of Berbera where it is expected to be welcomed by the owners, Red Sea Petroleum Company.
Somaliland: Foreign Minister returns from London talks
03 Aug – Source: Somalilad Press – 326 words
Somaliland Foreign Minister, Dr. Mohamed Abdillahi Omar has returned from his trip to London where he held several meetings at Chatham House. Dr Omar was in London to participate in a series meetings on Somaliland’s current political status and the progress that his government has made since it was elected last year.
Foreign Minister Dr. Mohamed Abdillahi held a short press conference at Egal International Airport where he gave an upbeat assessment of his trip and the outcomes of various meetings. Minister Omar claimed that the meetings in London had brought a great success for Somaliland because all the leaders that he has met with in London all spoke highly about Somaliland’s progress.
When the minister was asked what the success of that meeting he said was; “…the international community has promised to work with Somaliland and welcome the growing relationship that it has developed with them”.
http://somalilandpress.com/
Authorities reveal the impact of Wednesday’s quake in Borame
04 Aug – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 161 words
The Wednesday morning quake that hit parts of Somaliland destroyed structures and water pipes in Dilla district, Awdal region, officials say.
The quake whose epicenter is said to be Borame town, Awdal’s regional headquarter was felt in other urban centers like Hargeisa and Gebiley in Somaliland.
Dilla district commissioner, Ibrahim Abdi Hashi, told Bar-kulan, the quake damaged underground water pipes, twelve water reservoirs and houses in Dilla town, saying that health facilities in the district have been kept standby to respond to any human casualty that might have resulted from the quake that has wobbled several towns in Somaliland.
Internally displaced people in Mogadishu ask for help
04 Aug – Source: Mareeg Online – 102 words
Internally displaced people in Mogadishu are in need of quick help and are suffering with no access to basic necessities of life, reports said.
Some of the IDPs in Dharkenlay district of Banaadir region who are mostly women and children are seeking help and support from their brothers and sisters who are rich saying they urgently need water, food and proper sanitation.
http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.
3 children die of hunger in Gedo region
04 Aug – Source: Radio Kulmiye, Radio Risala – 123 words
3 children are reported to have died of hunger while others are reported to be in very bad conditions in Dabley village 25MK to Garbaharey city of Gedo region, residents said.
Dabley village commissioner, Sheikh Mohamed Derow told local F.M stations in Mogadishu that 3 children died of hunger and thirst are living in isolated regions which have already been deserted by most of the residents.
Egyptian medics pledge medical deliveries worth $30,000 for Somalia
04 Aug – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 152 words
The Egyptian Doctors body has pledged to offer medical aid worth $30,000 in coming few days to deal with the looming poor health conditions and famine related crisis in the country.
The head of the organisation’s humanitarian aid, Mustafa Zogbi said the medical aid will be delivered to the needy people through a local organisation based in Mogadishu, Zamzam Foundation.
Zogbi also stated that they have already dispatched a team of medical staffs from their organisation to Somalia in order to assess health conditions among the affected people in the country.
REGIONAL MEDIA
IDB approves $1 million relief for Somalia’s drought victims
03 Aug – Source: African Press Agency, Afrique Avenir – 281 words
The Islamic Development Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a $1 million relief package to help the drought-hit people of Somalia where famine threatens more humanitarian disaster. (…)
The latest package is in addition to the US$ 1 million relief grant approved last April for Somalia where a deteriorating security situation as a result of fighting between government troops and Islamist insurgents has left relief work to reach vulnerable people in the capital Mogadishu severely undermined.
Meanwhile members of the IDB board discussed various development financing and technical assistance proposals in member countries as well as educational and health grants and assistance programs for Muslim communities in different parts of the world.
WFP response to famine in East Africa
04 Aug – Source: Al Shahid – 192 words
The International Rugby Board’s humanitarian partner, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), has launched a coordinated emergency response to help the 3.7 million people facing starvation in Somalia as well as increasing activities to target the 11 million people in the Horn of Africa requiring food assistance due to the continued drought in the region.
WFP has declared a corporate emergency, elevating the crisis to the highest level of action and indicating grave concern about the possibility of widespread loss of life. Despite challenges of reaching those who need urgent assistance, humanitarian agencies are working hard to respond.
In an effort to reach more children with lifeısaving interventions, the WFP and its UN partners have scaled up emergency nutrition, water and sanitation, and immunization efforts to combat malnutrition and reduce disease.
To expedite the delivery of supplies into the worstıaffected areas, the UN has started airlifting urgently needed medical, nutrition and water supplies.
The IRB is proud to support the WFP relief effort and through the IRB/WFP Tackle Hunger programme, raises awareness of the WFP’s work, draws attention to the plight of the world’s hungry and connects the global Rugby family with the programme.
http://english.alshahid.net/
Two Kenyan ministers dismiss UN report on terror
04 Aug – Source: Nairobi Star – 310 words
Two Ministers have declared that they will hold another fund-raiser for the controversial Pumwani Riyadha Mosque before the end of Ramadan.
Ministers Mohamed Elmi of North Eastern Development and his gender counterpart Naomi Shaban yesterday led more than 10 MPs in dismissing a report linking two of their colleagues to the dreaded terrorist group al Shabaab.
A UN Monitoring Group report on Somalia and Eritrea obtained by Reuters said non-Somali Kenyans now constitute the largest and most organized non-Somali group within the al Shabaab.
The report also indicated that Tourism Minister Najib Balala and Nominated MP Amina Abdalla had contributed 200,000 shillings and 500,000 shillings respectively to the reconstruction of the Pumwani mosque, but the money was diverted to Somalia to fund al Shabaab activities. Balala has since threatened to sue the UN group.
Addressing the press at the building, Elmi said the leaders will hold a major fund-raiser to complete the mosque which is valued at 48m shillings.
Elmi said report has brought all Muslim leaders together for a worthy cause adding that the 18m shillings needed to complete the towering structure built opposite Pumwani Social Hall will now be raised. Nominated MP Shaykh Dor also hit out at the UN saying that he had attended so many fund-raisers to build churches around the country.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Child ‘drought brides’ sold secretly in Kenya
04 Aug – Source: Reuters – 499 words
“It’s done in the dark,” said Fatuma Ahmed, squatting inside her makeshift stick shelter. “Some people sell their daughters at a tender age so they can get food. It’s common but people are silent about it.”
Prolonged drought in northern Kenya has pushed many families, like widow Ahmed and her seven children, towards the outskirts of towns where they are more likely to get food and water. Aid is in short supply and people are resorting to desperate strategies. It’s illegal to marry under the age of 18 in Kenya — so the phenomenon of “drought brides” is only whispered about. Child marriage is not unusual is this part of the world.
Many pastoralist communities, like Somalis in Habaswein, believe it is important to marry their girls off when they are young so that their honour, or virginity, is preserved.
Women who do not marry young are seen as flawed and a burden on their family. “In our culture, girls marry as young as nine,” said one local community health worker. “She is forced to marry someone when she is not willing. They are forced by their parents.”
Among pastoralist communities, a “dowry”, in this case a bride price, is traditionally given to the bride’s family in the form of livestock. “People marry when they have a dowry to pay and everything is in plenty,” said Abdi Issak, a local aid worker.
“When it is green, the animals can drink from the water pans. You see it in the faces of the people. Their faces shine because they get enough food in their homes.” But most of the animals have died due to the drought that has affected around 10 million people in the Horn of Africa.
http://af.reuters.com/article/
UN: More Somali areas hit by famine
04 Aug – Source: BBC – 67 words
The United Nations has declared famine zones in three more regions of Somalia, because of the rates of malnutrition and death brought on by the worst drought in 60 years.
The announcement brings the number of areas of the country suffering from famine to five. They include parts of the capital, Mogadishu, which have become home to refugees fleeing violence and drought.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
Food crisis deepens in Somalia
04 Aug – Source: CNN – 20 words
CNN’s Nima Elbagir visits a camp in Somalia where food and aid is distributed to people who are in need.
http://edition.cnn.com/video/#
U.S. allows its NGOs operating in the area controlled by Somali militia al Shabaab
03 Aug – Source: All Voices – 461 words
Better send help but be lost on the road. This is the conclusion he has reached the United States with an eye on Somalia. The State Department has informed the humanitarian organizations that want to operate in the south of the country that can do so without penalty despite the risk that a piece of the pie into the hands of Islamist militia al-Shabab, which the CIA links to Al Qaeda.
“Such is the crisis that we believe is worth taking the risk of any deviation [aid]”, reported yesterday a senior U.S. official who heads the department Hillary Clinton. Al Shabab’s ties to international terrorism and extortion campaign of NGOs led President Barack Obama to ban April 13, 2010 any shipments to Somalia that would benefit the fundamentalists.
The humanitarian crisis has led Washington to lift off the freno.La executive order signed by U.S. President a little over a year more so undermined the low delivery of humanitarian aid from the U.S. or North American label.
Four months earlier, the Islamic militia had announced a ban on Western NGOs who wanted to work in the south central region of the country under their control. Since then, the drought has forced the UN to declare a state of famine in the provinces of Bakol and Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle two districts of the Afgoye corridor and the area displaced from Mogadishu.
The international comunindad has also launched an airlift to contain the emergency in Mogadishu, where more arriving every day a thousand thousand displaced Somalis, another enters every 24 hours in the fields of Kenya.In political language, Clinton’s cabinet “has published a new guide which gives [the NGOs] more flexibility to provide needed assistance to a broader area.” Put bluntly, Washington agrees not to prosecute organizations that assist the Somalis in the territory of Al Shabaab. Although forced to pay “tolls” imposed by the Islamists.
South Africa NGO to set up feeding centre in Somalia
03 Aug – Source: SABC – 162 words
A feeding centre will be set up in Somalia’s capital city today by South African NGO, the Gift of the Givers. Thousands of refugees who have flocked to Mogadishu to escape famine will be provided with meals.
Most Somalis have not eaten for days. Yet when they’re offered lunch they refuse to take it. They’re bravely observing the Ramada�¤n fast. Today the Gift of the Givers will open a feeding centre to provide locals with food after 6pm when Muslims are allowed to break their fast.
It’s hoped that this centre will continue to run, even after the team returns home, but that will depend on how much supplies are available. The organisation is hoping more South Africans will dig deep into their pockets to help Somali’s desperately in need of food and water.
Meanwhile, the number of Somali’s making their way to the country’s capital is rapidly increasing. They’re heading to Mogadishu in a bid to get food at aid centres.
UN Envoy calls on all citizens to pull together to help those suffering
03 Aug – Source: UN News Centre – 534 words
A senior United Nations official today appealed to all Somalis, both inside and outside the country, to work together to support the ongoing peace process and alleviate the plight of those suffering from famine, while pledging the world body’s continued support in the coming days.
“This is a time of great crisis, but also of rare opportunity. It is a time for everyone to pull together to help those suffering and to work towards a better future for all,” Augustine Mahiga, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, said in a letter addressed to the Somali diaspora.
“I appeal to all those who are able – Somalis and the international community alike – to give as much as they can during this Holy Month to feed the hungry, heal the sick and prevent the famine spreading further,” he stated, referring to the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan that began on Monday.
Drought in the Horn of Africa has ravaged large areas of Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti, leaving an estimated 12.4 million people in need of humanitarian aid. Earlier this week, the UN warned that the famine in two areas of southern Somalia could spread to five or six more regions unless there is a massive and immediate response from the international community.
The world body has also been stressing the need for a comprehensive and inclusive strategy to restore peace and stability in Somalia, which has not had a fully functioning national government and has been wracked by factional warfare since 1991.
Mr. Mahiga noted that despite recent progress on the political front, one of the contributing factors to the famine has been the ongoing fighting in the country. Some of the extremists are continuing their efforts to intimidate the population by preventing the movement of people from the worst-hit areas, he said.
“We call for the humanitarian agencies to be given unhindered access to all areas to provide desperately needed help,” he wrote, adding that the insecurity in many areas means that aid workers take huge risks to make their life-saving deliveries.
http://allafrica.com/stories/
BLOGS/EDITORIAL/CULTURE
Somalia drought sows divisions
04 Aug – Source: Al Jazeera – 393 words
One can be forgiven for thinking you’ve arrived in Somalia. From the Kenyan town of Garissa, everyone looks Somali. It is rare to see black Kenyans on the street.
It gets even more noticeable as I drive into the town of Dadaab, just kilometres from the world’s largest refugee camp.
But while most people here may look the same, I soon realise there are differences. On one side are refugees from Somalia. On the other side: ethnic Somalis who were born in Kenya.
While most Kenyan Somalis have sympathy for the refugees, many don’t want them here. A lot of Kenyan Somalis are pastoralists who move around with their sheep, goats and cattle looking for grazing land.
The drought in East Africa – the worst in 60 years – has made things difficult. Carcasses of animals are not hard to find.
If you can’t see them, you can definitely smell them. Death is everywhere. It’s depressing. Losing livestock could mean an end to the ways of life for many Kenyan Somalis if the drought persists. They struggle to feed their families. The future looks grim.
Imagine being in that position and watching the thousands of refugees from Somalia pour into your country. They get access to food, water, and shelter and eventually access to health care and educations for their children.
You may look Somali but because you have a Kenyan ID you don’t qualify for assistance, unless you find a clever way around it, which some of them do.
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/