October 14, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.
50,000 children in Somalia “on doorstep of death”
Fifty thousand children in Somalia could die unless they are given immediate assistance, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the Horn of Africa country has warned.
A drought has worsened an already dire humanitarian situation in the country which has experienced more than two decades of insecurity. The Al Shabaab terrorist group has been driven out of a number of cities but has blocked food supply routes in some parts of the country.
UN Humanitarian Coordinator Philippe Lazzarini said the international community needs to act now to save the children. “We have more than one million people who are in need of urgent assistance. Among them we have 250,000 children. And among them we have 50,000 children who are on the doorstep of death, if no assistance is provided now.”
On Tuesday, the UN Security Council is expected to hear a briefing of the current situation in Somalia.
Key Headlines
- At least 30 Al-shabab members surrenders to the federal government (Radio Goobjoog)
- Federal government and Puntland state sign an agreement in Garowe (Puntlandi.com/Radio Goobjoob//kismaayo24.net)
- Security forces impose curfew on Kismayo (Radio Goobjoog/kismaayo24.net/)
- Somali-Canadian Munira Abukar council candidate faces racist graffiti (Diplomat.So)
- Kenyan military says 60 al-Shabaab militants killed in Bula Gadud (Sabahi Online)
- Somalia presidential adviser linked to militants – UN monitors (Reuters)
- Amid unstable security UN warns of growing humanitarian crisis (UN New Centre)
- 50000 children in Somalia “on doorstep of death” (UN Radio)
- Mogadishu’s face-lift (Enca.com)
- UN envoy in Somalia slams deadly attack in Mogadishu (China.org)
SOMALI MEDIA
At least 30 Al-shabaab members surrenders to the federal government
14 Oct – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 169 words
At least 30 Al-shabab members have surrendered to the federal government forces in Hiran region the last twenty four hours, government sources confirm.
General chief of staff of government forces in Hiran region Abdullahi Barre Elmi told Goobjoog FM that the members of Al-shabab who defected to the government side were warmly welcomed.
He added that other members of the group who intend to lay down arms and come to Beledweyne, the headquarters of Hiran have contacted the security forces. The federal government of Somalia has repeatedly urged Al-shabab members to take advantage of the offered 45 days amnesty before it expires.
Al-shabab has lost many districts under its control including Barawe district, the major base of the group in Southern Somalia to the allied forces but their planned explosions and attacks in the capital still continues.
Lower Juba administration burns expired food and drugs
14 Oct – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 148 words
The administration of Lower Juba region and health ministry of interim administration of Juba in Southern Somalia have burnt expired food and drugs in a field outside Kismayo to avoid health problems that it could cause to the people in the area.
Lower Juba governor Abdirashid Gooni, Kismayo district commissioner Ibrahim Mohamed Tima Jili’i and assistant minister for health of IJA briefing the media at the scene commended the efforts of control quality department that has managed seize tons of expired food and drugs.
They sent warnings to the businessmen who import expired food and other essential goods into the region adding that the administration will lay strict measures to fight expired food and drugs. Kismayo district commissioner Mohamed Tima Jili’i said the security forces will continue the operations in all markets of Kismayo to curb the effects the effects of the expired food and drugs.
Federal government and Puntland state sign an agreement in Garowe
14 Oct – Source: Puntlandi.com/Radio Goobjoob – 140 Words
The federal government of Somalia and the regional administration of Puntland signed agreement in Garowe to end the difference between the sides.
The prime minister of federal government Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed and Puntland president Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas presided by UN envoy to Somalia Nicholas Kay, AU envoy to Somalia Mohamed Affey signed the agreement earlier on Tuesday. The closing ceremony is underway and the participants are expected to release the communiqué of the agreement but Goobjoog FM managed to get some points of the agreement.
1- The propossed Central Somalia administration will not have any affect on Puntland territorial areas.
2- Puntland is independent to sign deals with its partners.
3- The federal government has recognized Puntland secondry certificates.
4- Federal parliament of Somalia and Puntland parliament were assigned to jointly investigate Punland claims that provincial constitution was changed.
Security forces impose curfew on Kismayo
14 Oct – Source: Radio Goobjoog/Kismaayo24.net – 129 Words
Reports from the port city of Kismayo, the administrative capital of Interim Juba administration say the security forces have imposed a curfew on the town on Monday night for security reasons. IJA security forces in Kismayo have also conducted security operations in some villages of the district and apprehended over twenty people suspected of Al-shabab members.
One of the senior security officials in Kismayo, Col. Abdullahi Mohamed who spoke to Goobjoog FM stated that the imposed curfew is meant to beef the security of the region. He reiterated that the curfew and security crackdown in Kismayo and surrounding areas will continue until the overall security is fully maintained. The recent few days unknown armed men have attacked the bases IJA forces and African Union peacekeeping troops in the district.
Somali-Canadian Munira Abukar council candidate faces racist graffiti
14 Oct – Source: Diplomat.So – 139 Words
A Somali-Canadian woman running for a city council seat is brushing off prejudiced messages scribbled on her campaign signs.
Munira Abukar, who wears a purple headscarf in the photo on the campaign signs, tweeted images on Fridayshowing apparently racist messages scrawled on the signs. One has her face scribbled out and the words “Go Back Home” added. Abukar says she’s proud of how Torontonians have reacted to the vandalism, adding that their support outweighs anything someone can scribble on a sign in the middle of the night.
The 22-year-old Ryerson University criminology graduate sits on the board of the Toronto Community Housing Corporation and looks up to June Callwood and Romeo Dallaire, according to her campaign website.
She is running in Ward 2 in Etobicoke, where she faces more than a dozen other candidates, including Mayor Rob Ford.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Kenyan military says 60 al-Shabaab militants killed in Bula Gadud
13 Oct – Source: Sabahi Online – 115 Words
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) said it killed 60 al-Shabaab militants Friday in Bula Gadud, and recovered five vehicles, bullets and guns from the militants,.
KDF spokesperson Colonel David Obonyo said the operation in the village included ground and air strikes.
“The militants were regrouping to approach our strongholds when they were crashed,” he said. “We counted 60 bodies and recovered five vehicles with many bullets.”
Friday’s offensive was the third reported last week. On Monday (October 6th) allied forces killed 22 al-Shabaab militants and dismantled a logistical base, and on Wednesday KDF killed another 12 militants, injured several others and destroyed a vehicle belonging to the group.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia presidential adviser linked to militants – UN monitors
14 Oct – Source: Reuters – 900 Words
U.N. investigators have accused an advisor to Somalia’s president of involvement in the unauthorized diversion of Somali government weapons to Islamist militants with ties to al Qaeda, according to a confidential new report seen by Reuters.
The charge concerns Musa Haji Mohamed Ganjab, a prominent Somali businessman. In an email to Reuters, Ganjab denied the monitors’ allegation, saying it was an attempt to undermine the Somali government and part of a campaign by the panel’s coordinator, Jarat Chopra, to destabilize Somalia.
Amid unstable security, UN warns of growing humanitarian crisis
14 Oct – Source: UN New Centre – 399 Words
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Philippe Lazzarini, voiced extreme concern over the unfolding humanitarian crisis in southern, central and north-eastern Somalia where numerous communities remain “desperately” in need of water, food and healthcare.
“The humanitarian operation in Somalia requires urgent scale-up,” Mr. Lazzarini said in a press statement. “We are in a race against time to save lives in areas stricken by drought and conflict.”
50,000 children in Somalia “on doorstep of death”
14 Oct – Source: UN Radio – 149 Words
Fifty thousand children in Somalia could die unless they are given immediate assistance, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the Horn of Africa country has warned.
A drought has worsened an already dire humanitarian situation in the country which has experienced more than two decades of insecurity. The Al Shabaab terrorist group has been driven out of a number of cities but has blocked food supply routes in some parts of the country.
Mogadishu’s face lift
14 Oct – Source: Enca.com – 04:50 Minutes
For decades, Somalia has been famous only for having one of the most dangerous and bloodiest civil wars on the continent. But over the past few years, African Union peacekeepers have pushed back insurgent group al-Shabaab. Much of the Horn of Africa nation has been given a facelift – especially its capital, Mogadishu.
UN envoy in Somalia slams deadly attack in Mogadishu
14 Oct – Source: www.china.org.cn 312 Words
UN envoy Nicholas Kay on Monday condemned a car bomb attack in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, which killed at least 15 people, saying that “the perpetrators need to be brought to justice swiftly.” Kay, the UN secretary-general’s special representative for Somalia condemned the attack on the cafe in Mogadishu, describing the bombing as an “appalling terrorist attack against innocent civilians.”
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Moore’s release has also cast new light on the debate among Western governments about paying ransom to terrorists. Because Moore was a citizen of both the United States and Germany, his kidnapping drew the two governments into a rare and awkward collaboration. “It’s complicated enough when there’s one nation involved,” says a security specialist with some knowledge of the negotiations. “Getting two countries to coordinate their actions is a total nightmare.”
The Long Captivity of Michael Scott Moore
13 Oct – Source: Outsideonline.com – 5786 Words
The German-American surfing writer was kidnapped by Somali pirates in 2012—and held for two years and eight months. Joshua Hammer reports on his imprisonment; the messy, drawn-out negotiations to ensure his release; and the ugly business of kidnapping for cash. As the global debate over ransoming hostages heats up, just how should we be getting our journalists home?
Top tweets
@LailaInNairobi #Somalia ‘s government has launched its first postal service in more than two decades.http://www.bbc.com/news/world-
@cooraaf62 Somalia enters a new face of recovery and progress. Negotiation and talk dialogue In punt land
@somaligov #Somalia: President H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his delegation traveled to Djibouti then they will head to France
@Ceergaabo3 UN envoy in Somalia slams deadly attack in Mogadishu http://wp.me/p4FFfK-47G
@UN_Radio “Deteriorating humanitarian situation” as drought threatens Somalia http://bit.ly/11hrztz
@NJtweeting The role of women in agricultural development workshop, led by ministry of agriculture #Somalia
Image of the day
AMISOM reiterates its dedication to helping the people of Somalia as the world marks the International Day for Disaster Reduction.
Photo Credit: AMISOM