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MEDIAWATCH: Somalia heads for crisis
Written by: Joanne Tomkinson
A Somali boy walks along a deserted street that was once one of the busiest in the Somali capital Mogadishu.
REUTERS/Omar Faruk
Violence has raged in Somalia since U.S.-backed Ethiopian troops entered the country in December 2006, and news organisations are cottoning on to warnings the country is plunging further into chaos. U.S. magazine Newsweek sounds the alarm with a report that humanitarian conditions are deteriorating dramatically, in part due to difficulties getting aid into the country. Six aid workers have already been killed in Somalia this year, and just 2,000 humanitarian staff work there - six times fewer than in Sudan's Darfur region. "I truly believe this is the worst humanitarian crisis on the continent, possibly in the world," Philippe Lazzarini, the United Nations' top humanitarian official for Somalia tells the magazine. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) echoes these fears. The conflict is intensifying due to heavy waves of violence in the Mogadishu and beyond, adding to numbers of people already displaced, the ICRC says. Three years of inadequate rainfall and a sharp rise in the cost of living mean many displaced families are living on less than one meal a day and have to spend increasing proportions of their meagre income on drinking water. "These families are enduring the extremities of suffering," Daniel Gagnon, a ICRC relief specialist in Somalia, says. "The living conditions are shocking. In some places, food, water, essential household items, and sanitation facilities are scarce or non-existent." Backed by Ethiopian troops, Somalia's interim government is battling an Iraq-style insurgency after ousting Islamists from the capital Mogadishu. A million people are believed to have been displaced by violence, and 1.4 million are facing a humanitarian emergency. The declining situation shows how far the U.S.-backed Ethiopian intervention is worsening conditions in the country, according to a commentator writing for Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper. "After more than a year of occupation, the picture is one of assassinations, bombings, looting, media repression and systematic displacement. Worse, there is no end in sight to the quagmire," the commentator says. The Ethiopian presence is radicalising more Somali insurgents, and the international community must do more to initiate a "Somali-owned peace process", the paper writes. Somali news website Garowe Online says the U.S. strategy in Somalia is failing. Pointing to recent U.S. cruise missile attacks against suspected Islamist insurgents in the southern Somali village of Dobley, the site says that rather than strengthening the position of the country's Ethiopian-backed Transitional Federal Government (TFG), the assaults are likely to weaken the government's position. "The argument could easily be made that such pre-emptive acts weaken, not strengthen, the already fragile TFG position in Somalia," it says. "Anti-government groups leading the muqawama (meaning "resistance" in Arabic) insurgency find new recruits on a daily basis, because they can point to inexcusable acts like the bombing of civilian homes in Dobley to rightly or wrongly portray the TFG as a government created by foreign powers to repress Somali liberation." Meanwhile, South Africa's Mail and Guardian newspaper writes that street children living in Somalia's capital are among the country's most vulnerable groups. "War and poverty have thrown thousands of children on to the streets of the Somali capital, leaving them in the crossfire of one of the world's most brutal guerrilla wars and exposed to disease, drugs and sexual violence," writes the paper. In the volatile area around the capital's Bakara market, clusters of children as young as eight gather to raid the city's rubbish bins, gathering plastic bottles and bags to sell on. The U.N. estimates that there are around 5,000 street children in the capital, and school is a distant hope for many. Mustafa Daud, a boy of 12 years old, told the paper he would one day like to become a doctor or a successful businessman with hundreds of people working for him. "It must be nice to be rich and loved by everyone." But in the midst of the hazardous conditions of Bakara market, businesses are still finding novel ways to survive, as Reuters reports. In the capital's precarious market area, an entrepreneur and an aid group are attempting to revive Somalia's economic prospects by producing some of the world's highest quality sesame seeds. Together the two have built a small plant to process the oilseeds, helping Somali farmers to triple their profits by bringing their sesame up to international standards. Now Somali farmers will be able to process their own sesame seeds, rather than sending them to other countries.
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8 responses to “MEDIAWATCH: Somalia heads for crisis”
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12 Mar 2008 17:17:11 GMT
As a somali i am very Angry at what the united states government are doing to us, how could the world be so silent when ethiopia has invaded us and our brutally killing us.
Is there no more justice and love left in this world. May God help us cos the world won't.13 Mar 2008 09:47:49 GMT
The worl is supporting and watchin Ethiopia mass killing on Somali innocents as Ethiopians occupy their land. There was no securiy council mandate that EThiopia allowed to invade our country. Nevertheless, there is nice smile from all western countries. What does that mean? On other hand, Wenstern backed so-called FG is not our govenment (Somali Government). It is EThiopian Coverage to occupy the our country. And those who are stakeholders of the foreign entity are warlords (Abdullahi Yusuf, Mohamed Dheere, Adan Madobe, Qanyare, Darwish, Bari-Bari, Sudi, Atto and others)who have no credit among Somalis intellectuals and grassroots. They are those who have been keeping and still keeping our country in anarchy with with Ethiopia support. Fron this article, the good point is that "the Ethiopian presence is radicalising more Somali insurgents, and the international community must do more to initiate a "Somali-owned peace process", the paper writes." Not radicalising but also makimg them more nationalists. Can the world answer why they support this genoside and national humiliation? Recognising and supporting these thugs (warlords) is national humiliation. What is the reason behind that? However, we (Somalis)cam read between the lines.
14 Mar 2008 13:07:16 GMT
I am so sorry, what is going on my own country Somalia. Ethopian and American are invaded Somalia and killed more people. I wish one day will come to justice.
14 Mar 2008 13:07:17 GMT
Bush and the despots he calls african leaders i.e meles zenawi are the worst problem not only in somalia but across all the african continent.Where ever bush has his fingers the soon starts wars and bloodshed.Bush is the scourge of the century.
23 Mar 2008 12:18:17 GMT
It's time the International Community must focus on ending impunity in Somalia,where warlords have committed gross human rights abuses against civilians for close to two decades. As a Somali Diaspora living in the United States of America,I fully support the words that come out His Excellency Mr. Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, U.N special representative for Somalia. Mr Ahmedou said that the International Community must focus on ending impunity in Somalia. That is the key ingredium in my view missing from the Security Council Resolution. I fully agree with him. On the other hand, I would like to inform you that from Somalis all walks of life who were victims under the hands of these Somali Warlords ask why the International Community especially the Security Council don't mention ending impunity in Somalia? I believe that unless it is addressed by the Security Council then there's no possibility of a return to peace and stability or return to normal economy or the normal delivery of humanitarian assistance in Somalia. The Security Council mentioned that the protection of civilians and Humanitarian relief efforts were placed front and centre,while member states were urged to help guard merchant shipping from Pirates off the Somali Coast,especially vessels carrying vital U.N Food Aid. But I would like to highlight to you that the Security Council made no reference of targeting Warlords and other Somali-some serving in the Somali government and other allied to the Insurgency who have made life a misery for most Somalis since late former president Mohamed Said Barre who was overthrown in 1991. These Warlords and other above statements are largely behind the Piracy activities in the coastal waters of Somalia. Furthermore,"the Security Council stated the need to protect,but they don't say from whom or for how long this has taken place" I think the International Community are not paying enough attention to Somalia, I believe there is no political will to confront the real issue which is ending impunity in Somalia. The U.N. Refugee agency says this:the conflict of Somalia is the world most pressing Humanitarian crisis-even worse than that in Darfur. To give you an example, The International Prosecutors working on criminal cases in other African Nations like Liberia and Uganda. I could not understand why no one was being blamed for Somalia's woes in the last two decades? I wish to reiterate to you that the Security Council is closing it's eyes when it comes on this issue. However, Some Somalis I talk are convinced that the Security Council is discriminating Somalia against other Hot Spot in the World. The Security Council has no political will to act when it comes to Somalia. I also would like to inform you that U.N. Secretary -General Ban Ki-Moon will report to the Security Council on March 10th 2008 on finding of two technical team he sent to Somalia and neighbouring States. Council members will then debate whether to act or repeated appeals for U.N. peacekeepers by the interim government and the A.U. I do understand both Ban and 15-Nation Council have been wary of sending U.N. Troops to the Horn Africa state,where insurgence finance by Eritrea ,some Arab states,and some Europeans have stepped up a campaign of assassinations,mortar and grenade attacks and Iraqi style roadside bombings. I personally feel the calls for outside intervention have revived bitter memories of the killing of U.S.soldiers during the " the Black-Hawk Down" battle of 1993 which marked the beginning of the end of a join U.S-U.N. peacekeeping mission. It is time for the U.N. Security Council let by my beloved adopted homeland the United States of America shun the memories of Black Hawk Down and to spearhead a fresh and vigorous policy towards Somalia in order to win the hearts and mines of Somali people as it was done in the early 1990s during the operation "Restore Hope". Please give this message to anyone who cares for humanity. It's urgent on behalf of the voiceless people of Somalia in which I represent. May God Bless the United States of America.
Sincerely Yours! Sharma'arke H.Gaani09 Apr 2008 13:30:59 GMT
SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS. THE WORLD MUST HELP NOW!!!
14 Apr 2008 14:16:21 GMT
what is going on somalia is agenoside and human rights abuses by ethiopian troops backed by the U .S.A. government. I am kindly requesting from the international community to intervene somali affiars and call ethiopian troops to stop the massacre of inocent and vanerable civilians . curently somalia is under the wosrt crisis both security and economy thounds are dying for hunger coussed by the insecurity and droughts its atime that somali people need ahumanitarian aid but really I do not know what the world is waiting and watching our problem arent we human being ???????.isnt our blood human blood???????????. MAY GOD HELP US AND GIVE US HIS MERCY. WE BELIEVE IN GOD HE IS THE POWER FUL CREATOR OF THE WORLD.
05 Nov 2008 16:02:31 GMT
what are you doing the international community while somalis residing within the country have been sufferring too much the cause of which individual interests. We somalis are killing somalis. How on earth a nation exterminate itself? I call upon the international community to bring to justice those so called Somalis who are living abroad and considers themselves as freedom fighters but commit Genocide. Under the name of Islam the facilitate Genocide on somalis. I call upon the Somali people enough for the death and for the blood shade. They called themselves Shaki, live in a sponsorship abroad and facilitate the death and the blood shade. I speak againest the evil act of those who are living in the neighboring counties like Eritirea and create instability and war in true somalis home land. Eritrea shame on you. How could you give shaler for killer and trouble makers. Once again we need the international community give Somalis just! ice by file a case on a crime against humanities.