May 4, 2017 | Daily Monitoring Report
Seasonal Rains Bring Hope And Disease To Drought-Ravaged Somalia
04 May – Source : Thomson Reuters Foundation – 300 Words
Heavy seasonal rains have started in Somalia, aid officials and residents said on Thursday, reducing the risk that the drought-ravaged Horn of Africa nation will plunge into famine. The U.N. has warned that drought and conflict mean civilians in Somalia, along with South Sudan, Nigeria and Yemen, face mass starvation without food aid. On Tuesday, the U.N. said 1.4 million Somali children would be acutely malnourished this year. But it has not said to what extent the rains might ease the humanitarian crisis, if at all.
The rains began in parts of the country in the second week of April but by last week had spread to most areas. The rains will allow farmers to plant crops as well as grass for the livestock that sustain Somalia’s nomadic families. But the long drought has already devastated herds and forced many farmers to seek aid in cities. Moreover, the rains bring cold and spread disease, a double threat for people and animals whose immune systems have been weakened by sustained hunger.
“Rain has killed the weak animals,” said Hirsi Yusuf Barre, the mayor of Galkayo south, the capital of the semi-autonomous Galmudug state. “Now people and their remaining animals have water but there is no food and shelter. And when it rains, diseases break out due to poor hygiene.” The World Health Organisation said last month that 25,000 people had been infected by cholera, and that number was expected to double by summer.
Key Headlines
- Seasonal Rains Bring Hope And Disease To Drought-Ravaged Somalia (Thomson Reuters Foundation)
- ASWJ Distances Itself From Elections In Galmudug (Jowhar.com)
- President Farmaajo Orders Probe Into Killing Of Minister Cuts Short Ethiopia Visit (Goobjoog News)
- US Appears To Be Ramping Up Efforts To Strike Terror Group Al-Shabaab In Somalia (Fox News World)
- Somalia Pledges To Enhance Safety Of Journalists (China.org)
- Digital Delivery Using Technology To Reach Those In Need In Somalia (WFP-Africa Exposure)
NATIONAL MEDIA
ASWJ Distances Itself From Elections In Galmudug
04 May – Source : Jowhar.com – 155 Words
The President of the moderate Islamist group, Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamaa (ASWJ) in the central regions, Mohamed Shakir Ali has said its not concerned with yesterday’s presidential election in Adaado in which businessman, Ahmed Dualle Gelle known as Xaaf was elected for the second President of Galmudug state.
The ASWJ leader stated, he knew the individual elected as a businessman, and has no further information on him. He continued, “The election in Adaado doesn’t concern us, I knew the man who was elected as a businessman, we recognise ourselves as an administration. They don’t recognise us and we don’t recognise them,” he said.While commenting on the ASWJ and Galmudug talks that collapsed, he said they suggested that the merger of the two existing parliaments in the region to recognised government all over the region. He said the people of the central regions need to be united so that they can fight their enemy in a united front.
President Farmaajo Orders Probe Into Killing Of Minister, Cuts Short Ethiopia Visit
04 May – Source : Goobjoog News – 385 Words
President Mohamed Farmaajo has ordered for speedy investigations into the killing of Public Works and Reconstruction Minister Abbas Abdullahi Siraj Wednesday evening at the entrance of the presidential palace. In a tweet Wednesday night, the President called the killing an ‘unfortunate tragedy’ which had claimed the life of his young and patriotic minister. “I have ordered the security heads to immediately get to the bottom of this unfortunate tragedy and make sure the perpetrators are brought to book,” the president said. Farmaajo also announced he was cutting short his visit to the neighbouring Ethiopia which he was scheduled for Thursday to ‘mourn with my country and take part in the state burial of minister Abass.’
The president also expressed his shock on the death of the minister noting, “I am deeply saddened by the death of minister Abass. He was young, diligent and patriotic” The circumstances surrounding the minister’s killing are not yet clear but a Senator quoted by Associated Press said the minister was mistaken shot by government security forces. “Siraji’s vehicle was mistakenly shot at by government security guards outside the presidential palace, a senator, Ilyas Abdulahi, told AFP.
Other leaders have also expressed their shock at the killing of the minister describing him as a dedicated servant to Somalia. Former president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said the death of Siraj was shocking. “I’m deeply shocked and saddened over the killing of Minister Abas Siraji, I offer my condolences to the family and all Somali people,” president Mohamud said in a tweet. First Deputy Speaker of the Senate Abshir Bukhari said the death of the minister was shocking and disturbing. “The death of Minister Abbas Siraj is deeply shocking and disturbing. Abbas endured years at refugee camp and against odds rose to be Minister,” said Bukhari.
Former Planning Minister Abdi Aynte Siraj was an inspiration to many youth in the country and that his death was a loss to the country. “The pain and agony with Siraj murder is lacerating. Met him 25 minutes before he was killed. We were supposed to meet again tonight. “He grew up in Dadaab camp and his meteoric rise to the upper echelon of govt was hope for many,” said Aynte. The former minister said he was to meet the minister the same night he met his death.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
US Appears To Be Ramping Up Efforts To Strike Terror Group Al-Shabaab In Somalia
03 May – Source : Fox News World – 641 Words
Recent diplomatic and military moves by the U.S. in the Horn of Africa indicate the Trump administration is preparing to ramp up its attacks against Islamist Al-Shabaab operatives in Somalia. The moves fall in line with the administration’s recent statements that it wants to beef up its military efforts in certain regions to defeat ISIS and other extremist groups like al-Shabab, a militant group that has ties to Al Qaeda. Among the recent moves:
Last week, aid groups in Somalia were asked to supply coordinates of refugee camps, hospitals and other service center, conceivably so they don’t get attacked in error. Just over a week ago, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis visited government senior official and U.S. service members in Djibouti, where the U.S. has a base and where the air strikes would originate.
Photos were released Monday of Marine Corps Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser, the commander of U.S. forces in Africa (AFRICOM), meeting Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi “Farmajo” Mohamed “ahead of expected escalation of U.S. airstrikes against al-Shabab,” according to one Somali government source. After vowing that the US military will go after “radical Islamic terrorism” last month, President Donald Trump declared portions of Somalia an “area of active hostilities.”
Marine Corps Brig. Gen. David J. Furness, who was also part of the Monday meeting with President Mohamed and was recently appointed commander of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, said his top priority is to “neutralize” al-Shabab. “There is no question that al-Shabab has brought great turmoil and has committed extreme atrocities in East Africa, and particularly in Somalia,” Furness said in a statement. “But we are committed to working with partner nations to help Somalia stand strong against this violent extremist organization and assist with the international and intergovernmental efforts to bring back security and stability to this very important region.”
Somalia Pledges To Enhance Safety Of Journalists
04 May – Source : China.org – 192 Words
The Somali government on Wednesday promised to enhance the safety of journalists, remembering “brave” journalists who lost their lives in the country’s rebuilding. Speaking on the occasion to mark World Press Freedom Day in Mogadishu, Information Minister Abdirahman Omar Osman said the government will promote responsible freedom of expression, media freedom and enhance safety of journalists offline and online.”Somali journalists are brave people that lost their lives for their country and they take part of the rebuilding of the country by providing vital information to the public at all times,” Osman said.
Despite increased attacks against journalists, it’s not clear who has been killing journalists but analysts say militants and criminals could be behind it.Oman said ministry of information regularly consults with media leaders and practitioners in order to provide an environment that is conducive for the media practitioners to carry out their duties without fear.”As part of these consultations, the government has agreed to review the current media law, as there were some concerns from the media practitioners,” he said and paid tribute to journalists, who have lost their lives while in duty for the people and country.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Continuing drought is forcing people in Somalia to move en masse once again, a mere 6 years after the country faced a brutal famine that led to the deaths of 260,000 people in the south. The humanitarian community is racing against time to meet the food, shelter and medical needs of millions of people affected by the drought, including thousands who have fled their homes and are arriving each day in cities and towns across the country.”
Digital Delivery Using Technology To Reach Those In Need In Somalia
03 May – Source : WFP-Africa Exposure – 776 Words
It’s Sunday morning – the first working day of the week in Somalia – and Sadia Omar Abdi sits in a busy shop in the centre of Dolow town with her 2-month-old baby nestled in her arms. Around her, customers and shopkeepers are bartering, waving their hands in the air and making dramatic faces as they haggle over prices. As a shop assistant begins piling some of Sadia’s orders on the ground – pasta, vegetable oil, sugar, several cans of tuna – Sadia pulls out a card from a little plastic sleeve in her hand and hands it to the shopkeeper. He inserts it into a Point of Sale (POS) machine, punches a few buttons, and then motions to Sadia, who places her finger onto a scanner. A few seconds later, the POS spits out a receipt listing Sadia’s purchases and the remaining balance on her card.
This seemingly normal shop scene offers a momentary respite from the harsh reality brought on by severe drought in Somalia. Nearly 3 million people – a quarter of the country’s estimated population – are in urgent need of food assistance. Since November 2016, over half a million people so far have been internally displaced as a result of the drought. This number is expected to rise as the situation continues to deteriorate.
Sadia and her family are one of 4,200 households – about 25,000 people – currently receiving assistance from the World Food Programme in Dolow, a sleepy, dusty town in southern Somalia, near the border with Ethiopia. Most are internally displaced people (IDPs) who have fled this drought or previous ones, and have come here in the hopes of finding help – either by crossing over into Ethiopia, or by seeking assistance and shelter in one of the two growing IDP camps in town.
Thanks to funding from donors such as the European Commission, WFP is distributing e-vouchers that enable Sadia and many others like her to buy the food of their choice from 14 WFP-registered shops around Dolow. Sadia and her family have been in Dolow since January this year, after fleeing drought and insecurity in her village in Bakool, about 120 kilometers east of the town. Shortly upon their arrival, they were registered onto WFP’s digital assistance delivery platform, SCOPE, and have been receiving monthly food voucher assistance since. Sadia feels they have been lucky.
“Back home we had nothing left, and here we’ve found food and assistance,” she says. “We made the right decision to come.” When aid makes an impact Since January, about 18,000 people – or about 3,000 families – have arrived in Dolow, either on foot or by truck from neighboring regions in the south, effectively doubling the IDP population. IDPs now outnumber the local host population five to one, adding serious pressure on already stretched resources.
At the same time, the two rivers that intersect and cradle Dolow and previously were the life source of its population have all but dried up. For the moment, nearly the entire town survives on humanitarian assistance. The European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) is providing a lifeline for the thousands of people left with nothing but each other, the minimum of possessions and little to no options for livelihoods. SCOPE is the means to deliver this lifeline.
TOP TWEETS
@UNmigration: After a month-long assignment, IOM’s @Muse_Mohammed talks about his journey in drought-affected #Somalia http://bit.ly/2pAyqgL
@somalitomorrow1: President Farmajo: “#Somalia and #Ethiopia must face regional challenges together & capitalise on opportunities… http://fb.me/3XU9BrAug
@WFP_Europe: In #Somalia, as aid agencies race against time, this #EU-funded #tech solution is helping thousands of families: https://wfp-africa.exposure.
@hairydel: Somalia’s security forces have shot dead a 31-year-old government minister after mistaking him for a militant
@Caasimadda: US appears to be ramping up efforts to strike terror group al-Shabab in Somalia
@Public_HealthVT: RT WHOSom: 2nd oral #cholera vaccination campaign starts in #Somalia for 463000 persons in Baidoa & Jowhar. Over 3
@IMC_UK: Drought in Somalia has driven thousands of malnourished refugees into Ethiopia. We’re helping provide food.
@EcoInternet3: Somalia: Declining Deterrence Gives Somali Pirates a Lifeline: AllAfrica http://allafrica.com/stories/
@inkermangroup: #SOMALIA: AFRICOM, CJTF-HOA Commanders meet with Somalia President
@US2SOMALIA: How the real-time #tracking of market prices in #Somalia helps us respond to #drought http://tinyurl.com/l8gxt8d via @WorldBankAfrica
IMAGE OF THE DAY
President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo is received by Ethiopia’s PM in Addis Ababa
Photo:Radio Muqdisho