NATIONAL MEDIA
11 July – Source: Garowe Online – 230 Words
The European Union Ambassador to Somalia, Nicolas Berlanga, arrived in Garowe, the capital of Puntland on Wednesday, his first regional visit since his arrival in the country last month, Garowe Online reports. The EU envoy and his delegation received a warm welcome at Puntland presidential palace, where he met with President Said Abdullahi Mohamed Deni and several ministers and other government officials.
Speaking at a joint press conference after the meeting, Berlanga said he was happy to arrive in Puntland and thanked Deni and his government for the cordial welcome that accorded to him and his delegation. EU mission in Somalia said in a Twitter post that the Ambassador and President Deni have discussions on various subjects, including the security situation of the country and European Union development projects. “My first visit out Mogadishu has been to Garowe because I wanted to hear the vision of President Deni has for Puntland and also the vision of commitment in consolidating the peaceful Federal Republic of Somalia,” said EU envoy.
The visit comes three months after the European Union jointly with the Government of Puntland launched the third phase of the state Education Sector Support Programme worth 7.3 million Euro. The government has appreciated the longstanding partnership between the EU and the Somali people, and in particular the sustained support to Puntland in the fields of education, road projects and security.
11 July – Source: Halbeeg – 231 Words
The Governments of Somalia and Italy signed an agreement of lifting and unpacking of the old Somalia’s marine vessels from the sea on Wednesday. The deal, which was contracted to Alpha Logistics Agency by Jubaland state, is aimed at improving the services of Kismayo port. The removal of the ship wreckage near the dockside, which caused a navigational hazard for shipping, is expected to ease the port traffic. Senior state officials led by Jubaland leader, Ahmed Mohamed Islam, visited the port together with officials from Italy and the World Food Program on Wednesday.
They later witnessed the signing agreement in a ceremony held at the facility. The relative calm that returned to the southern Somali port city since recaptured by joint Somali and AMISOM troops from al-Shabaab in 2012.
11 July – Source: Radio Shabelle – 95 Words
Somalia’s northern self-declared breakaway region of Somaliland has sent massive reinforcements to areas around Erigavo town in the disputed Sanaag region. The state forces were deployed in the city’s outskirts to quell anti-government protests by local residents demanding self-determination, according to the sources.
Reports from the region indicate that heavy fighting broke out after Somaliland forces attacked Col Aare fighters as they were travelling in a convoy near the Dhoob area on Wednesday. Three Somaliland soldiers and one fighter of Col Aare were killed in heavy fighting in Sanaag region on Wednesday, local sources said.
11 July – Source: Somaliland Standard – 135 Words
The Somali president, Mr. Mohamed Abdilahi Farmajo, has deplored the recent inter-clan skirmishes that transpired in El Afweyn in Sanaag province which left behind human casualties. The Somali leader has sent sincere condolences to the families that lost loved ones in the animosity killings between the two brotherly clans and hoped for those who have sustained injuries to have a speedy recovery.
The Somali leader is calling on officials of Somaliland administration, traditional elders, religious leaders, civil society organizations, women and the youth to all they can to stop the recurring of the fighting between two tribes. He urged the this must stop and added at this time it would be unworthy to let the shedding of the blood of our people. The Somali leader reminded the warring sides that they share marriage and blood.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
11 July – Source: Care International – 818 Words
Every morning she wished that she could join them. She had a dream that someday she would also go to school. Hafsa, the third born in her family, never had the opportunity to go to school because her mother, who is widowed, could not afford to meet the cost.
Poverty, conflict and traditional gender norms often hinder girls’ education. Those who manage to go to school are often older when they first enrol, and sometimes are absent for long periods due to seasonal migration and conflicts. Hafsa says: My mum could not meet the school fees and other costs related to school. And since there was no one to take care of the younger children, I took care of them as my mother went to the market. But Hafsa still held on to her dream. One day, her neighbour Suherya visited her and asked why she never went to school. Suherya is a pupil at Hiddaya Primary school. She is part of the Girls Empowerment Forum which supports girls to speak out and be their own leaders. Until then, Suherya would never have approached anyone to ask why they were not going to school.
The Girls Empowerment Forum (GEF) is part of the Somali Girls Education Project, funded by UK aid with additional support from the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery. The project works with schools, communities, religious leaders and the ministry of education in Somaliland, Puntland and Galmudug to increase marginalised girls’ access to quality post-primary education opportunities and improve learning outcomes. The Girls Empowerment Forum creates opportunities for girls to develop and practise leadership skills that include self-confidence and decision-making skills. This leads to girls increasing their ability to voice their needs and aspirations; engage in decision-making processes at the school and in the community, and lead local initiatives in support of their rights. Suherya herself says: “The GEF training has really influenced my thinking capacity and helped me to think about others in general.”…..
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Dr Mohamed Hassan Nur, who headed the camp, said 200 people from the villages received malaria treatment. They also created awareness on treatment for malaria, pneumonia and skin infections and distributed mosquito nets. The university carried out the exercise in coordination with Jubbaland health ministry.”
11 July – Source: Radio Ergo – 344 Words
University staff and students in Kismayo have treated hundreds of low-income people at a free medical camp in three villages that lack access to health services. A team from Plasma University in Kismayo conducted free diagnosis and treatment for 540 people in the villages of Bulabartire, Istanbul, Khamkham and Yontoy. Shukri Abdullahi Abdi and her three children were among those treated by the medics in Istanbul village, 25 km from Kismayo, where there is no health post. Her three children who had been sick for three days were diagnosed with malaria and treated. As she is pregnant, she underwent an ante-natal check and received vitamins. “I had no money to take my children to Kismayo for treatment, but I can say these are God-sent messengers,” she said. Shukri’s family has only 30 goats left after losing 40 goats and 20 cows to drought in 2016.
Hafido Ahmed Abdullahi, in Bulabartire village 20 km from Kismayo, took her son and two daughters to the camp for malaria and skin infection treatment. “The children were treated and the girls were given antibacterial soap and ointment. They were scratching their skin and making wounds but now they are better,” said Hafida. She takes care of five children after divorcing two years ago and earns a living from a small restaurant in the village.
Dr Mohamed Hassan Nur, who headed the camp, said 200 people from the villages received malaria treatment. They also created awareness on treatment for malaria, pneumonia and skin infections and distributed mosquito nets. The university carried out the exercise in coordination with Jubbaland health ministry. Dr Nur said the exercise would be conducted regularly due to the demands they witnessed among the community in the villages. “The students raised $2,500 to run the free treatment camp and distributed 180 mosquito nets among the villagers,” he explained.
Jubbaland health ministry coordinator, Mohamed Sheikh Adan, praised the initiative. “The doctors who work at the universities and their students can take part in the efforts to save lives. This could be one way to serve our people,” he said. |
