NATIONAL MEDIA
6 November – Source: Halbeeg – 129 Words
Somalia’s opposition political parties umbrella has announced a donation of $200K in support of flood-affected victims in the country on Tuesday. The Forum for National Parties said the funds are meant to support humanitarian aid efforts in Beledweyne, Bardale and other areas affected across the country. The coalition also declared the establishment of two special teams that will work towards the coordination of helping the victims. Another opposition party Wadajir started water trucking and provided 500 mosquito nets as part of relief efforts on November 2nd. The flooding mainly caused by river Shabelle affected three regions mainly Hiran, Middle Shabelle, Gedo, Bay, and parts of Lower Juba regions. The Federal government of Somalia in coordination with international relief agencies has delivered aid to affected citizens in the past week.
5 November – Source: Somali Affairs – 433 Words
Somali government on Tuesday said that it had arrested two police officers who beat, harassed and confiscated journalists equipment a day earlier, a move hailed by Somali journalists Syndicate. On Monday afternoon, two pick-up trucks with armed police officers stopped the journalists’ car working for Aljazeera and Reuters and immediately began harassing, beating and fired several bullets into air while pointing guns at the journalists, according to Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), a membership based journalists’ trade union based in the Somali capital.
Director of Communications of office of the President, Abdinur Mohamed Ahmed said on a facebook post that the police arrested two police officers in connection with the journalist’s beatings and will be brought before the courts of law, while apologizing to the Somali media in general, specifically the journalists who suffered the police brutality. “Somali police deserve to be appreciated in their noble work in maintaining the security, but it’s important to stay away from any activities against the law and the country’s constitution,” Abdinur Mohamed Ahmed, director of communication of Villa Somalia said, “I apologize to the Somali media in general especially the journalists affected by the police brutality.” “We (as a government) will take every step in ensuring the journalists’ safety and preserving their constitutional rights” Mr. Ahmed added……
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
5 November – Source: AFRICOM – 663 Words
U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command, and U.S. Chargé de Affairs to Embassy Mogadishu, Brian Néubert, discussed U.S. and Somalia security developments with Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed “Farmaajo” and Somali National Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mohamed Ali Barise, during a visit here Nov. 5. Townsend’s visit to Somalia is his second since taking command in July, and served as an opportunity for him to meet with Somali and key U.S. leaders. He also used the engagement to visit troops and to assess the progress of the campaign in East Africa as well as progress being made against al-Shabaab. Townsend discussed why it is important to apply pressure to terror networks in Somalia. “Al-Shabaab, and ISIS, are a threat to our African partners, to U.S. interests in East Africa as well as to the U.S. homeland. They possess the desire and intent to attack the U.S,” Townsend said. “Due to the persistent pressure our campaign puts on al-Shabaab and ISIS, we believe they lack the actual capability to attack our homeland but we must stay vigilant and keep pressing them.” The general also remarked on the purpose of military operations. “U.S operations help to build critical Somali defence capability and counter-terrorist plots and plans,” Townsend said. “Our actions keep Somalia, the region, and the U.S. safer and more secure.”
The commander further stressed that while these security gains provide increased optimism for the future, AFRICOM must remain committed to supporting the Somali government efforts to sustain its successes against al-Shabaab in order to maintain gains. “Security and stability are critical to stronger government, stronger economies and increased trade. Therefore, our commitment to help our Somali partners improve security and develop their defence institutions remains a top priority for AFRICOM,” Townsend said. “This also requires continued efforts and coordinated support from the international community to make it work.”
President Farmaajo commended the strength of the partnership between Somalia and the United States stating, “Somali People are grateful for the solidarity and support of the U.S. Government in the fight against terrorism. The continued engagement of the U.S. in Somalia provides invaluable assistance to the Somali security forces, and our partnership has inflicted significant damage on terrorist groups seeking to undermine Somali progress.”……
5 November – Source: FAO – 310 Words
The last 24 hours saw moderate to heavy rains in parts of Juba and Shabelle basins. Belet Weyne in Hiraan recorded 39mm, which has only made it worse for the town currently under water. Wanle Weyne in Lower Shabelle recorded 38mm. A few places in Nugaal and Mudug areas also received light rains. Wet conditions are expected to persist in the coming weeks. The cumulative rainfall forecast for the next three and seven days is calling for moderate to heavy rains across the country as well as within the Ethiopian highlands. In particular heavy rains of more than 100mm are expected in Hiraan, Bay and Bakool regions which are already saturated following weeks of continued heavy rains. Lower Juba and Bari regions may receive little or no rains.
Shabelle River at Belet Weyne in Hiraan region has been at full bank level for the last 12 days leaving about 68% of the town underwater according to analysis from satellite images. Today, Bulo Burti in Hiraan Region is only 0.23m away from the bank full level pausing an immediate threat of overbank spillage and possible flooding of the town in the next few days. High levels and flooding in Belet Weyne and other areas along the Shabelle will be sustained in the next couple of days given the current situation and foreseen rains. Observed river levels along the Juba continued to drop in the last 24 hours with no risk of flooding…….
5 November – Source: UNICEF – 308 Words
An estimated 200,000 children have been affected by heavy flooding in Belet Weyne, Berdale, Baidoa, Jowhar and Mahadaiin, Somalia. Thousands of families have been forced to leave their homes and locate to higher ground. Living in makeshift camps or worse in the open, many of the displaced are in dire need of clean water, sanitation and hygiene services, safe shelter, health and food supplies. The floods have also destroyed schools and interrupted learning for thousands of children. “Children are very vulnerable in times of emergency,” said UNICEF Somalia Representative Werner Schultink. “If we do not act decisively, the impact of these floods will be felt in Somalia long after the water levels recede,” he added. Damaged crops and farms inundated with water will impede access to food. This will exacerbate the previously precarious food situation in the country. Food insecurity, lack of healthcare and access to safe water and sanitation will result in spikes in malnutrition among Somali children and cause a deadly cycle of fast-spreading waterborne diseases. UNICEF is working closely with local authorities and partners to determine and meet the most urgent needs of children and their families……..
5 November – Source: ICRC & SRCS – 309 Words
As flood rescue and recovery efforts continue in Somalia, the Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS) fears the floods could trigger deadly outbreaks of malaria, diarrhoea, and other infectious diseases. “These floods have already cost lives and our concern is that another fatal disaster is on its way,” said Abdi Abdullahi who leads SRCS operations in Beledweyne. “Thousands are living in the open and outbreaks of disease can easily take hold. The main hospital in the area is flooded and many are cut-off from our clinic.” More than 50 SRCS volunteers are in Beledweyne town responding to the immediate aftermath of the floods. Last week, SRCS recovered seven bodies from the floodwaters and evacuated 137 people by boat. A mobile clinic has also been set up to provide care to the people moving to higher ground in Eljale, 10km from Beledweyne town. “We are on high alert, but much more will be needed, especially clean water and sanitation, to prevent people from falling ill. We are racing to scale-up our response, but the floods have made it impossible to bring relief and medical supplies in by air to Beledweyne and many areas are hard-to-reach,” said Yusuf Hassan Mohamed, president of the SRCS…..
4 November – Source: AfDB – 314 Words
Five Horn of Africa countries have launched an initiative to forge closer economic ties, building on the improving political climate in the sub-region. The initiative was formalized on 18 October, on the sidelines of the World Bank Group/IMF Annual Meetings in Washington DC. The countries agreed on priority projects and programs that will constitute the initiative, which is being developed by the countries with support from the African Development Bank, the European Union and the World Bank. The effort will culminate in a financing forum next year to seek investors to realize a package of priorities identified by the quintet, which has over the past decade registered some of the highest growth rates in Africa.
Khaled Sherif, the African Development Bank’s Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery, who attended the roundtable in Washington said: “The Horn of Africa’s geo-strategic position with regard to the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, has important regional and international significance. “These can be harnessed to spur integration, resilience and usher in a new era of prosperity, enabling the countries to reap significant dividends from the current peace initiatives.” The Horn of Africa nations identified four priority areas of focus: (i) improving regional infrastructure connectivity; (ii) promoting trade and economic integration; and (iii) building resilience; and (iv) strengthening human capital development……
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“According to Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, the installation was not only meant to remember the few individuals whose monuments were erected but also meant recall the long struggles by the Somali public to achieve freedom and (the freedom fighters) to give us chance to live independently and as complete nationhood. The youth who were taught the struggle for independence at schools are the ones attracted by the monuments. The installation is seen as progress taking place in the city and signifies the importance of reviving the historic places. Future governments ought to maintain and protect these monuments.”
5 November – Source: Halbeeg – 740 Words
On 18th October just four days after the country marked the 2nd anniversary of the deadliest bomb attack, people in Mogadishu woke up to major development in the city-the government had brought to live monuments of our heroes which had for many years. They erected monuments are Dhagah-Tur, Sayidka, Hawo-Tako, Ahmed-Gurey, SYL, and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, all of which symbolize the struggles and sacrifices for our independence. The move to rebuild the monuments receives major public praise in spite of criticism by a handful of individuals led by opposition figures. The critics claimed that the government should have done something more important than erecting monuments while some looked at them from a religious perspective terming the move as irreverent. But those who support the installations argue that the monuments refresh the minds of the youth and remind them of the struggles for independence, reviving a memory which was diminishing bit by bit.
Somali youth, who make over 70% of the population, received a sense of belonging and a chance to remember and cherish the struggles our independence heroes made. The monuments also serve as an important reminder and warning to our youth that should they not unite, they will risk losing this independence. These monuments were part symbols that robbed when the civil war broke out following the fall of the central government led the military in the 1990s. The country has not yet recovered from the nightmare which befell it 30 years ago though there have been efforts to revive the statehood in the last 20 years. According to Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, the installation was not only meant to remember the few individuals whose monuments were erected but also meant recall the long struggles by the Somali public to achieve freedom and (the freedom fighters) to give us chance to live independently and as complete nationhood. The youth who were taught the struggle for independence at schools are the ones attracted by the monuments. The installation is seen as progress taking place in the city and signifies the importance of reviving the historic places. Future governments ought to maintain and protect these monuments…….. |
