May 21, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report
UN, Somalia Seeks $80 Million In Immediate Relief For Flood-affected Populations
21 May – Source: Malaysian News Agency – 184 Words
The United Nations and the Somali Government launched a joint appeal for $80 million to provide immediate help for the people affected by recent flooding in the country’s centre and south. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the flooding “caused by the heaviest rainfall there in more than three decades” has led to fatalities, massive displacement, and damage to infrastructure and cropland, compounding an already fragile humanitarian situation.
OCHA said more than 750,000 people are estimated to have been affected by the flooding, with at least 229,000 displaced. Humanitarian partners are unable to rely on the existing $1.5 billion humanitarian response plan for Somalia for 2018, which is only 24 percent funded. The new $80 million appeal, launched at a high-level event in Mogadishu, would provide short-term relief to the affected communities that were already vulnerable due to ongoing conflict and previous droughts.
Key Headlines
- UN Somalia Seeks $80 Million In Immediate Relief For Flood-affected Populations (Malaysia News Agency)
- PM Pledges Support To Flood Victims In Mogadishu (Halbeeg News)
- Foreign Minister Says No Negotiations With Kenya Over Maritime Dispute (Hiiraan Online)
- Tropical Cyclone Hits Somaliland Killing At Least 15 People: Governor (Reuters)
- Somali Fishermen Struggle To Compete With Foreign Vessels (Voice of America)
- Berbera Port Expansion Project To Commence In September (The Reporter Ethiopia)
NATIONAL MEDIA
PM Pledges Support To Flood Victims In Mogadishu
21 May – Source: Halbeeg News – 255 Words
Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire accompanied by high ranking officials in his government paid a visit to flood victims, after long hours of heavy rains pounded Mogadishu city. Heavy rain and floods witnessed in and around Mogadishu, have led to several deaths and displacement of many people in the city.
The PM, who spoke to a large number of people displaced by the floods, promised to continue supporting them and other flood victims, in order to rebuild their lives: “I am saddened by the accident. The government will help them get back on their feet, alongside with others in the country hit hard by floods,” he said.
During last night’s visit, Prime Minister Khaire, was accompanied by Security Minister, Mohamed Abukar Islow, Mogadishu Mayor, Abdirahman Omar Osman and several other officials. Hundreds of families, the majority of whom are internally displaced persons (IDPs) spread in various towns across the country, were displaced after their homes were submerged in the waters following heavy rains.
Speaking to the media, Ms. Maryam Hussein Ali, a flood victim said many families in Bulahubay suburb were rendered homeless after their houses were swept away by raging waters. “Our belongings and foodstuffs were washed away by the floods. Our houses have been submerged and we are going to spend the night in cold, because we have nowhere to go,” said Ms. Ali. She urged the government and donor agencies to move swiftly in providing food and non-food items saying children, the elderly and women were the most affected by the floods.
Foreign Minister Says No Negotiations With Kenya Over Maritime Dispute
21 May – Source: Hiiraan Online – 280 Words
Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Isse Awad, has said there are no ongoing negotiation with Kenya over the maritime boundary dispute. His comments contradict those made by his Kenyan counterpart, Monica Juma, in an interview with London-based “New Africa Magazine”.
When asked what her position was on the ongoing case lodged by Somalia to the International Court of Justice, Amb. Juma said that Kenya was exploring all avenues and that “a conversation is ongoing”, insinuating that her country was in direct negotiation with Somalia on the matter. She added that they hoped to reach an agreeable settlement. Juma also said “it is better to resolve any dispute between us ourselves, without involving a third party,” adding that mechanisms were in place within the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to resolve any dispute.
Awad on Sunday retorted that there had been no formal contact between Kenya and Somalia on the matter, reiterating that Somalia’s case at The Hague was intact. “The maritime case between us (Somalia) and Kenya will be settled by the international court in The Hague. I assure you that there is no other communication on the matter with respect to our neighbour, Kenya”.
Last February, Kenya lost its bid to stop a case filed by Somalia over a maritime dispute from proceeding to a full hearing at the International Court of Justice. At stake is the potentially lucrative narrow triangular stretch of 100,000 square kilometres believed to contain large oil and gas deposits. The court has asked Somalia to submit a reply and Kenya to submit a rejoinder fixing June 18, 2018, and December 18, 2018, as the deadline for the filing the written pleadings.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Tropical Cyclone Hits Somaliland Killing At Least 15 People: Governor
21 May – Source: Reuters – 295 Words
At least 15 people have died in Somaliland after heavy rains caused by tropical cyclone Sagar which landed in the Horn of Africa over the weekend. Situated at the northern tip of east Africa on the Gulf of Aden, Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991. “In the last 24 hours, heavy stormy rains killed 15 people in the districts of Lughaya and Baki,” Abdirahman Ahmed Ali, governor of the Awdal area told reporters on Sunday. “The Somaliland government has started giving emergency help to the victims.”
Meanwhile in Puntland, a semi-autonomous northeastern region of Somalia, storms caused by the cyclone took away two men and their car from a valley in the city of Bosaso, Yusuf Mohamed Waeys, the Governor of Bari in Puntland told Reuters on Sunday. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said thousands of people have been affected by the flooding, displacement and the destruction of infrastructure in Sagar’s wake.
“The cyclone has worsened the humanitarian situation in the two states and disputed regions, which have experienced protracted drought dating back to 2015, leaving them particularly prone to flash flooding in the direct aftermath of massive downpours,” it said in a statement.
Puntland and Somaliland have been engaged in conflict over the disputed Sool region for more than 10 years. People who live there are divided over which side to back. Last week, dozens of people were killed in clashes between troops from the two sides.
“Due to the dispute over the regions of Sool and Sanaag and lack of access to some affected areas after the destruction of roads, the situation of affected populations and impediments caused by blocked roads and failed communications, the extent of the damage is yet to be fully confirmed,” the UN said.
Somali Fishermen Struggle To Compete With Foreign Vessels
20 May – Source: Voice of America – Video 2:38 minutes
Despite having some of the richest waters in Africa, Somalia’s fishing industry faces many challenges. Reporting for VOA in the port city of Bossaso, Jason Patinkin takes us to meet fishermen struggling to make ends meet, and a group of women who hope a new U.N. program to support fish markets will improve their livelihoods.
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“Back in 2016, the initial deal was signed between UAE and Somaliland; that the former agreed to develop and manage the port with its own financial coffers. Somaliland will not be required to contribute in financial terms as the land and the seaport it availed is considered as an investment in kind.”
Berbera Port Expansion Project To Commence In September
19 May – Source: The Reporter Ethiopia – 674 Words
After forming a tripartite port development agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ethiopia, the Government of Somaliland, which is yearning to gain international recognition, has made arrangements to commence the construction of new port facilities at the Port of Berbera.
During a visit to the Port of Berbera – 154 kilometers out of the capital Hargeisa – Ali Ismail Mohamed, head of port operations with the UAE based DP World Group told Ethiopian journalists that the new tripartite port development project is set to take effect. “The construction of the first phase begins in September and bids will be awarded to potential developers,” the operations head said.
As per the timeline, the port project is expected to be finalized by 2020. The port facility, which currently has the capacity to handle 150,000 container port traffic (TEU: 20-foot equivalent unit), is expected to expand into handling one million TEU of 20 and 40-foot mixed units.
The Somaliland Port Authority has already consolidated port management operations and let DP World acquire positions in the management and operational activities at the existing port facilities. The USD 442 million port, according to Mohamed and his team, will be developed in two phases. During the first phase of development, both Mohamed and Allan Sanchez – project operations manager with DP World at the Berbera Port – said that a 430 meter berth is expected to be constructed which will accommodate two vessels at any given time. The overall expansion project will bring about a 800 meter wide berth that can dock five ships at a time. The existing port facility accommodates five major vessels on a 650 meter long berth.
In case of Ethiopia’s involvement, it is hard to find out how the government is taking part in the development activities. Given its 19 percent stake at the port, Ethiopia looks at shipping some 30 percent of its import/export trades. Close to 10 percent of the total volume of shipment will be directed to Port Sudan. Some 95 percent of the country’s international trade currently passes through the Port of Djibouti.
The expansion project as commentators argue not only provides port services but is an additional milestone in the struggle for recognition as an independent nation. However, the project is seen as a threat by the Somalian and Djiboutian authorities. Somalia opposed the project claiming it has violated its sovereignty while Djibouti didn’t like Berbera Port becoming a potential competitor as it takes a considerable share of volume from what it currently enjoys.
TOP TWEETS
@Goobjoognews: PM KHAIRE visits floods victims in Mogadishu, pledges government support.
@DalsanFM: Somalia’s War On Al-Shabaab Not In vain, Kenya Army Says https://www.radiodalsan.com/
@mpfsomalia: “Supporting institutions” projects should support institutions by using them in #Somalia. Our Govt. counterparts are both able and capable in leading state-building efforts.
http://documents.worldbank.
@addisstandard: Worrying developments building up in the Horn of Africa as #Puntland says preparing for war with #Somaliland.
@Vatescorp: #Somalia Dismisses Existence of Talks with#Kenya Over Maritime Dispute, says case is at the ICJ at the Hague.
@joaoscarpelini: Somali Government seek $80 million in immediate relief for #flood-affected populations in #Somalia
@OCEANUSLive: Somali Fishermen Struggle to Compete with Foreign Vessels
@SahraCabdi: #BREAKINGNEWS: 4 people died in#Mogadishu #IDPs, after long hours devastating rainfall. Houses collapsed & streets overwhelmed the floods
@DrBeileh: Discussed Somalia’s progress & remaining challenges with @AfDB_Group President @akin_adesina & his senior leadership team during #AfDBAM2018 today. We are making real progress & we are grateful to the Bank for its continued diverse support. Partnership for progress is crucial.
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Mogadishu residences dealing with the effects of the heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours.
Photo: @Goobjoognews