April 25, 2017 | Morning Headlines
UN Decries Insecurity For Civilians, Aid Workers In Somalia
24 April – Source : Xinhua – 336 Words
The United Nations on Monday expressed concern about increased insecurity for civilians and humanitarian workers along major access roads in southern and central Somalia. The United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the majority of the 42 districts in the area have moderate to high movement restrictions linked to road blockades, active hostilities and extortion at checkpoints. “Local communities and commercial transporters are complaining of increased extortion at new taxation checkpoints that have emerged in areas within a 120-kilometer distance between Galkayo in Mudug region and Cadaado in Galgaduud region,” OCHA said in its latest report released on Monday.
It said the most affected routes continue to be the Mogadishu-Baidoa-Dollow, Mogadishu-Afgooye-Marka-
It said the Afgooye-Wanla Weyne sections in Lower Shabelle have been particularly affected, while local communities and transporters additionally express concerns about other forms of human rights violations including rape, physical assault and robbery of valuables from passengers. The move comes after over 60 trucks were stranded between Afgooye and Leego towns due to high amounts of unjustified extortion at roadblocks on April 13. “The trucks were stuck for over a week and only moved after a form of agreement was reached. An additional 30 trucks carrying supplies from Bossaso port to areas in southern Somalia were also stranded in Galkayo south in the previous week due to a taxation conflict,” the UN said.
Key Headlines
- UN Decries Insecurity For Civilians Aid Workers In Somalia (Xinhua)
- Mogadishu’s Mayor Appoints New Deputies And Secretary(Garowe Online)
- AU Plans To Open Main Supply Routes For Relief Access In Central Somalia(Goobjoog News)
- Turkish Foundation Sends Aid To Drought-hit Somaliland(Anadolu Agency)
- Somali Teen’s Venture In Rare Field Attracts Support Of International Firm (Daily Nation)
- Somali Museum Seeks To Save Culture Bridge Gaps(Associated Press)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Mogadishu’s Mayor Appoints New Deputies And Secretary
24 April – Garowe Online – 228 Words
The Mayor of Mogadishu and Governor of Benadir region, Thabit Abdi Mohamed has appointed new deputies and a secretary after assuming office on Monday, Garowe Online reports. The Mayor announced the new appointments following in-depth consultations with local traditional elders, and the Minister of Interior Abdi Farah Saed “Juha” , according to an official document obtained by Garowe Online. The new appointed officials are; Salah Sheikh Mohamed, deputy governor in charge of political and security affairs, Maluka Dheere Sheikh Abdulkadir, deputy governor in charge of management and Finance, Abdullahi Hajji Erig, deputy governor in charge of social affairs and Aden Sheikh Ali, the deputy governor in charge of public works.
On the other hand, Subeyda Mohamed Mukhtar was appointed as the Secretary General of Benadir regional administration, Two women are among the new officials appointed for the region’s top positions for the first time, however, the new officials have assumed offices from their predecessors with the presence of the Mayor on Monday. “Today, I am pleased to introduce my deputies. For the first time in history, in the top leadership has shifted towards a more gender balanced team,” said the mayor in a Twitter post. Mayor Mohamed became the deputy chief mission of Somali Embassy in U.S. during the past government led by former President Hassan Sheikh prior to his new post as the Mayor of Mogadishu this month.
AU Plans To Open Main Supply Routes For Relief Access In Central Somalia
24 April – Source : Goobjoog News -179 Words
African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) says it is planning to open and secure main supply routes to help facilitate delivery of humanitarian aid to drought stricken people in Somalia’s central regions. The Sector Four Contingent Commander, Col. Mohamed Elmi Habane from Djibouti said Somali National Army will play its role to ensure humanitarian relief reaches residents affected by the drought in these regions.Habane said that the project to open and secure main supply routes will be augmented with operations to rid the country of the Al-Shabaab.
“ This issue of the roads blocked by Al-Shabaab has problem and thorn to us so we forwarded the issue to AMISOM officials, so now there are ongoing plans which is intended to implement soon,’ said Habane. He added that the opening and securing of main supply routes is crucial for channeling humanitarian assistance needed by thousands of residents affected by the severe drought.Al-Shabaab militants have cut off main roads leading to several towns in central Somalia which the group lost to the troops of Somali government backed by AU forces.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Turkish Foundation Sends Aid To Drought-hit Somaliland
24 April – Source : Anadolu Agency – 233 Words
A Turkish foundation has sent packages of essential food aid to thousands of drought-stricken residents of Somalia. The Turkey Diyanet Foundation, a group affiliated to the state Religious Affairs Directorate, has handed out 1,500 packages of food aid to needy families in the Shirwac, Arra’ad, and Togdheer regions of Somaliland, an autonomous region of the Horn of Africa country, the group said in a statement Monday. The foundation plans to send aid to more than 5,500 families in Somali cities such as Mogadishu, Garbaharrey, Bardera, Bosaso, Qardho, and Baidoa, the statement added.
The foundation’s goal is to reach 18,000 needy families in Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. Thirty-seven children in the region, most suffering from growth retardation, have also been treated, according to Mesut Sezikli, a volunteer doctor. Sezikli stated that there is an urgent need for pediatric vitamin pills. According to a United Nations report, nearly 950,000 Somali children under the age of five “will be acutely malnourished this year.”
The Somali government has called the famine a looming national disaster. At least half of Somalia’s population is in need of humanitarian emergency support, as the drought there is the worst since 1945, according to the UN. The drought hit at least 11 out of 18 Somalia regions, including the worst-affected Bay region, where at least 110 people died from hunger and a cholera outbreak last month.
Somali Teen’s Venture In Rare Field Attracts Support Of International Firm
24 April – Source : Daily Nation – 974 Words
Teenager Nasra Haji has ventured into a world most female Somalis would dare not, mechanics.She wakes up every morning and goes to her garage in Mogadishu where she has attracted many clients thanks to her hard work.”This has always been my passion. I love cars and I have always wanted to know about them. That is why I decided to become a mechanic,” says Nasra.”This is not an ordinary job for ladies, but it is what I have always wanted to do. I am happy I have made my dream into a reality,” she adds.
A youths’ leader, Suaad Raage, has drawn her inspiration from Nasra. “This gem is the first female mechanic in Somalia and is an inspiration to all,” she tweeted.Nasra is among the youths in Somalia who have reason to believe in empowerment following the fourth TEDxMogadishu, which was held this month. Nasra Haji, was one of the inspirational speakers at the event.
Money transfer company, Dahabshiil was one of the main sponsors of the event which is aimed at creating opportunities for the youths, giving them a platform to express their creativity and courage and boosting their chances of being self-reliant.Nasra’s story touched Dahabshiil’s Chief Executive Officer, Abdirashid Duale, who attended TEDx.Dahabshiil has promised to help her, enabling her to develop her career as a mechanic.”She is part of our vision of helping youths achieve their goals in life,” said Mr Duale.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“The museum sidesteps some of its layout issues by conducting outreach away from its physical location. The Somali Museum’s dance troupe travels and performs traditional dance across greater Minnesota and in other states, Said Salah Ahmed, who teaches for the museum, said,”
Somali Museum Seeks To Save Culture, Bridge Gaps
24 April – Source : Associated Press – 494 Words
When Osman Mohamed Ali returned to Somalia in 2009, he noticed few cultural artifacts remained.Most relics had been destroyed in the country’s 1991 civil war, Ali said, and there were no museums left in Somalia to preserve remaining items, the Minnesota Daily reported.Worried the last artifacts would be destroyed, Ali began collecting those he could find and brought them to the U.S. In 2011, Ali founded the Somali Museum of Minnesota, which now holds hundreds of artifacts from the country.
Now, the museum is looking to expand. A bill sponsored by Rep. Ilhan Omar, DFL-Minneapolis, would grant $200,000 to the museum over the next two years to expand programs and exhibits. The museum has several cultural programs but lacks adequate room to operate at its current location — tucked into a commercial basement on East Lake Street.
The museum aims to connect Somali youth born in the U.S. to their heritage while educating non-Somali Minnesotans to foster understanding.“The museum represents culture and heritage for our community,” Omar said.People of all ages and backgrounds visit the museum, including students on field trips and government employees, said Ali, who serves as the executive director of the museum.“When they take a tour, they learn something about this culture,” he said.
But space constraints have caused the museum to keep much of its more than 700-artifact collection in storage. There’s also no room for the museum’s dance troupe and weaving classes to use, Ali said. The bill’s funding would let them lease separate spaces specifically for these programs, he said. “This money’s going to help us to do more activities and … more exhibits and display more artifacts,” he said.