Nota bene: Some browsers complained of text over-run on right hand margin while printing. This is a 90% wide box.
This should be printer friendly copy. Eh?
BBC Worldwide Monitoring, April 5, 2004/SOURCE: Radio Shabeelle, Mogadishu in Somali 0500 gmt 5 Apr 04
Somaliland minister warns of possible war with Puntland
Somaliland Rural Development minister Fuad Aden Ade has told Shabeelle that the forces of Somaliland will move to near Garoe, the capital of the autonomous region of Puntland, which is the real border between Somaliland and Somali republic.
He said that a war between the two sides Puntland and Somaliland cannot be prevented, since Puntland is hesitating to recognize Somaliland as a neighbouring republic, with the ownership rights of Sool and Sanaag regions going to Somaliland.
Speaking about the intention of Col Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, the leader of Puntland, to visit Sool, the Somaliland minister said that is not true and they will never allow their rival Col Yusuf to visit peacefully the disputed region of Sool.
Fuad Aden Ade If we cross outside our borders then we are aggressors, but as we continue to stay at our borders Col Yusuf is supposed to give us a full peace. He must not think that we will be afraid of the presence of his troops in Las'anod, we will go there and we are very sorry to his militias since they will not get way to escape, we hope that they will join us and say: Col Abdullahi Yusuf was wrong so we are with you.
Presenter The Somaliland minister's statement comes while Somaliland forces are too close to the provincial town of Las'anood of Sool region. The Somaliland forces are about 30km from to Las'anood and this has created fear among the residents of the town.
This is the first time that Somaliland forces have gathered close to Las'anod, while the tension between the two sides has recently been decreasing. However, all this emerged soon after Col Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed returned to Puntland from Nairobi and his planned visit to the disputed region of Sool.
BBC Worldwide Monitoring, April 3, 2004/SOURCE: Xog-Ogaal, Mogadishu, in Somali 3 Apr 04
USA to "establish liaison office" in Somaliland
The United States of America is reportedly to establish a liaison office in Hargeysa, the capital of the self-declared republic Somaliland. The reports, which were quoted from some diplomats in Kenya, and in other places, said the USA wants the new office, to be a liaison one, that would focus with the help of other US offices in Djibouti and Nairobi, on US political interests in Somalia. The report has not said when the official inauguration of the office would take place. However, Somaliland officials said that the US office would be opened soon, while from the US side there has been no report regarding the issue.
BBC Worldwide Monitoring, April 2, 2004/SOURCE: Walta Information Centre web site, Addis Ababa, in English 2 Apr 04
Ethiopia: Visiting Somaliland president vows to fight terrorism
Addis Ababa, 1 April: The president of Somaliland said here on Monday 29 March that his country cannot accept terrorists and that it is working closely with Djibouti and Ethiopia in the fight against terrorism.
Accordingly, he said, we have captured people who attempted to infiltrate into Ethiopia and about thirty OLF rebel Oromo Liberation Front members were now in custody. He said they will be brought to court as Somaliland does not allow anyone to attack neighbours from its territory.
In an exclusive interview with Walta Information Centre, President Dahir Rayaleh Kahin, meanwhile, stated that the Berbera corridor, which links the port city with Ethiopia, is under construction. The building of the corridor has become essential, as the trade relations between Somaliland and Ethiopia have been consolidated, he explained.
The president said the ministers of finance of Somaliland and Ethiopia are establishing checkpoints so that the people can trade freely, while smugglers can easily be contained.
To this effect, he added, some Somaliland technicians had visited Ethiopia to finalize arrangements.
"Although we are not recognized by Ethiopia," said President Kahin, "We share security, borders and many other things with Ethiopia. And we discussed these and other matters with the officials, including with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi."
During his stay in Ethiopia, the President said he has also met the Chairman of the African Union and stated their "case". President Kahin pointed out that Somaliland has been appealing for recognition not only in Africa, but also in Europe.
In this regard, he said, prior to his arrival in Ethiopia, he visited Britain and spoke to "several ministers and addressed the House of Commons."
He further stated that in Brussels he met officials of the Inter Parliamentary Union, the European Commission, the House of Senate and the Belgian Parliament.
President Kahin vehemently rejected any form of integration with Somalia even if peace prevailed in that country. The creation of Somaliland as an independent state has been confirmed by the referendum held on May 2001, he said. "There are many African countries that withdrew from the union they had formed. Gambia and Senegal, Egypt and Syria, and there are many other examples. Therefore what we are doing is not new to Africa," the president elaborated.
Blaming Al-Qa'idah for the recent insurgency in his country, Kahin accused the authorities in Somalia for sending the terrorists to Mogadishu. He said "They want to turn our country into Mogadishu", the president disclosed that the main activists have now been detained.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200404010066.html.
Somali Journalists Create Press Freedom Monitoring Network
International Freedom of Expression Exchange Clearing House (Toronto), April 1, 2004
For the first time in Somalia, press-freedom violations will be systematically documented and reported, thanks to efforts by the Somali branch of the Eastern Media Institute (EAMI-S) and support from the Danish agency, International Media Support (IMS).
EAMI-S has formed a network of five correspondents who will report on press-freedom violations in Somalia, beginning in the capital, Mogadishu.
The initiative arose out of a successful four-day seminar EAMI-S conducted on 15 May in Mogadishu. With funding from IMS, 23 participants at the seminar learned how to gather, compile and report violations using the action alert format pioneered by the International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX).
Before the formation of this group there was no systematic gathering on information relating to press freedom violations in Somalia, EAMI-S says. EAMI-S says it plans to look for opportunities to expand the monitoring network to cover Southern Regions as well as the Puntland Autonomous Region in Northeastern Somalia, where relations between media and local government are tense.
EAMI-S was established in June 2001. Its programmes include training for local journalists, regional networking and lobbying against repressive media laws.
For more information, contact Abdulkadir Mohamoud Walayo, Eastern Africa Media Institute Somalia Chapter; Tel: +252 1 217955; +252 1 650870; +252 59 32510; Cell phone: +252 501600; E-mail: walaayo@yahoo.com. For details on IMS' work in Somalia, visit
http://www.i-m-s.dk/?ID=65&SMID=65.
BBC Worldwide Monitoring, April 1, 2004/SOURCE: Qaran, Mogadishu, in Somali 1 Apr 04
Anti-UK demo staged in Mogadishu
Somali civil society groups yesterday staged a demonstration at the Mogadishu Stadium, accusing the British government of exposing its long-standing hostility towards the Somali nation and campaigning for the international recognition of the northwestern provinces Somaliland .
The civil society groups also accused the Ethiopian government of planning moves similar to that of the UK and for making efforts to see the northwestern provinces accorded international recognition.
In their condemnation, they referred to a visit to the northwestern provinces by a British parliamentary delegation which later when it went back called on the UK government to provide a lot of aid to Somaliland and to give it recognition.
The civil society groups condemned any government or agency that seeks to or is campaigning for the dismemberment of the Somali nation and people.
They called on the UK and Ethiopian governments to stop their interference in the affairs of Somalia and to desist from such blatantly misinformed actions which violated the unity of Somalia.
The civil society groups called on the Somali people to cooperate among themselves and to work for their unity so as to restore peace and stability and establish a government that would restore their dignity and nationhood.
They appealed for solidarity and warned Somalis not to depend on foreigners to manage their affairs. Passage omitted: similar ideas, background to peace talks
The demonstration, which was attended by hundreds of people, mainly students, was addressed by the acting mayor of Mogadishu appointed by the transitional government headed by Abdiqasim Salad Hasan , Ibrahim Shaaweey.
The acting mayor said no government was likely to emerge from Somali reconciliation conference in Kenya.
Prof Abdullahi Muhammad Shirwac, who is a member of the civil society groups, called on Ethiopia to stop arming the factions, adding that the Somali people were ready to establish a relationship of good neighbourliness with Ethiopia.
Source: UN Children's Fund, 31 Mar 2004 (http://www.unicef.org)
UNICEF Somalia Review Mar 2004
Two killed in Somaliland attack
In the Northwest Zone, or 'Somaliland', two employees of the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) were killed when their car was ambushed on Friday, 19 March on the Hargeisa-Berbera road. Those killed were a Kenyan national acting as a consultant to GTZ, and a Somali driver. A German staff member also in the car was slightly injured. Later reports indicated that the gunmen were apprehended at Dhoqoshi, a village in Togdheer region, about seven kilometres from the border with Ethiopia. Somaliland authorities are interrogating those arrested.
The Northeast Zone, or 'Puntland', was calm during the reporting period. The recent tension in relations between Somaliland and Puntland over the disputed Sool region has diminished.
In central and southern Somalia, intermittent conflict between rival clans and militia, and incidents of banditry, continued. Areas most affected were the southern port -town of Kismayo, the Jilib-Buale area, Merka, Beletwyene, parts of Bay and Bakool regions and the western parts of Gedo region. Major interclan fighting was reported in Cerale in Galgaduud in which more than 60 people were reported killed and more than 150 wounded. Mogadishu was generally quiet although the situation in the city remains insecure, with many armed criminal gangs roaming the streets.
Boat tragedy: Reports from Sanaag, northern Somalia, indicate that at least 85 people died when two boats, each carrying illegal immigrants, collided in the Red Sea off the coast of Sanaag region. One boat sank, with 85 passengers drowning. Only eight passengers and five crewmen survived. The other boat was damaged, but all 105 passengers were rescued by coastal guards from Puntland.
Northwest Zone - Hargeisa Office
Political developments
A high level delegation from Somaliland, led by Dahir Rayale Kahin, visited the United Kingdom, Belgium and German during the month and held meetings with government officials in those countries.
In Northeast Somalia ('Puntland'), sources close to the governing authorities said that political discussions continue on the possibility of extending the mandates of the current governing structures which expire in April 2004.
Health programme highlights
Training: During March, UNICEF trained health workers from 13 health centres in Galbeed region of Somaliland in safe motherhood. Health information cards for patients were distributed to those trained for utilization in their respective health centres. In Puntland, UNICEF trained managers of vaccine storage facilities.
Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI): In Somaliland, UNICEF organized planning workshops for EPI activities in Hargeisa and Borama towns. The workshops reviewed the constraints faced in past campaigns and drew up a list of priority villages to be targeted for immunisation campaigns. A weeklong immunization exercise was carried out in Baki, Zeila, Lughaya and Borama districts of Somaliland. About 2300 children were immunised. During immunisation activities in Awdal region, pregnant women were vaccinated against tetanus and children were given vitamin A.
In central and southern Somalia, UNICEF repaired and installed vaccine storage equipment at maternal and child health centres run by the Somali Red Crescent Society in Balad and by World Vision in Buale. UNICEF also organized a training of trainers workshop in preparation for EPI campaigns this year. Some 20 people were trained.
Equipment repair: UNICEF repaired defective equipment and provided spare parts for vaccine storage facilities in Berbera town and Hargeisa in Somaliland.
Supplies: UNICEF distributed drugs, medical supplies and equipment to health facilities in Puntland.
Safe motherhood: UNICEF identified people to support the promotion of safe motherhood and initiated contact with health facilities in Burao, Somaliland, to foster cooperation between the safe motherhood advocates and the facilities. Some 3000 clean delivery kits were distributed by the NGO Candlelight, a UNICEF partner, to maternal and child health centres (MCHs) in Awdal region.
Training
UNICEF trained members of drought-affected communities in Sool in hygiene, sanitation and chlorination. UNICEF supplied chlorine for treatment of drinking water to affected communities. In the droughtaffected Sool and Sanaag plateau, some 26 out of 33 wells have been rehabilitated by Horn Relief with the support of UNICEF.
Nutrition programme update
Malnutrition: Results of UNICEF screenings of children for health and nutrition in the drought-affected Sool and Sanaag regions of northern Somalia in February indicated that of some 7,457 children about 1,490 were moderately malnourished and 126 were severely malnourished. Indications were that overall, about 20 percent of the children are malnourished. UNICEF and Action Contre La Faim signed an agreement for the NGO to carry out a nutrition survey in drought-affected areas of Garowe, Dangorayo and Burtinle districts in the Nugal region, Puntland.
Water and Environmental Sanitation update
Projects: Construction works; installation and supply of equipment; and excavation of trenches for laying pipes were some of the activities undertaken in support of Gabiley, Borama and Odweine water projects in Somaliland. Construction of water tanks for four schools in Borama has commenced. The tanks will supply water for hand-washing.
Training: UNICEF held a one-day briefing session on sanitation and hygiene promotion for 18 participants from seven community-based organisations (CBOs)from the Bari region, Puntland. The CBOs will carry out a baseline survey on sanitation and hygiene practices in 12 villages where UNICEF has undertaken water and environmental sanitation projects. UNICEF also initiated a baseline survey for Loyaddo village and Dami internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Somaliland.
Education highlights
Annual Primary School Survey: UNICEF staff attended a three-day workshop in Bossaso in March to review the 2003/4 Annual Primary School Survey questionnaire and to make adequate translation of difficult terminology into Somali to ensure that enumerators are able to collect the required information. UNICEF staff trained the enumerators in northwest, northeast and central and southern Somalia after which the field data collection got underway in the second week of March. Data collection was completed in Puntland and Somaliland and is underway in central and southern Somalia.
Learning Achievement Study: In 2001, prior to the distribution of textbooks for grades 1 to 4 and the related in-service training of primary school teachers, a baseline study was conducted to establish how teachers taught and the literacy and numeracy standards of students in Grades 2 and 4. As a follow-up to this earlier exercise, a similar study will be undertaken in 40 schools in Somalia in April. In preparation, UNICEF staff and those of the education sectors of the Somaliland and Puntland administrations attended a three-day refresher training in Hargeisa, Somaliland. The training focussed on administering the tools and tests.
HIV/AIDS prevention and control update
Advocacy: As part of the strategy to accelerate HIV/AIDS awareness during the commemoration of special events such as UN days, UNICEF staff met with the women's groups organizing International Women's Day (IWD) celebrations in Somaliland and suggested ways in which messages on HIV/AIDS and women could be incorporated into the discussions and activities which formed part of the IWD events.
Policy development: UNICEF is assisting the Somaliland technical committee for HIV/AIDS to develop a HIV/AIDS policy for Somaliland. A consultant has been hired to draw on experiences and documents including the vision set out in the Strategic Framework for the Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) within Somali Populations, developed in 2003. Other documents include the HIV/AIDS and STI action plan for Somaliland; assessments of the national policies of neighbouring countries such as Kenya, Djibouti and Ethiopia;experiences of countries and communities with the same cultural and religious issues (such as Sudan, Senegal and Zanzibar) and countries which have achieved a reduction in prevalence, such as Uganda.
Materials: UNICEF has developed Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials for use in HIV/AIDS awareness activities in Somaliland and has also completed a draft translation of the summary of the HIV/AIDS Strategic Framework into Somali.
Child Protection update
Study results disseminated: UNICEF staff met representatives of Save the Children Alliance (UK) to discuss the Child Rights Situation Analysis study in Somaliland. The two parties resolved to disseminate the results of the study not only to local authorities, NGOs and UN agencies, but also to communities. They proposed to create a Child Rights Forum for Somaliland. In Puntland, UNICEF distributed findings of the Child Protection Study that was undertaken last year to 11 youth groups based in Nugal and Mudug.
Communication for Development update
Radio initiative: UNICEF staff participated in a workshop for development of a new series of Saxan Saxo, a radio programme on health issues of concern to Somali women. The radio programme, supported by Health Unlimited, is broadcast through the BBC Somali Service.
Youth broadcasting: A two-day workshop was held to review the Youth Broadcasting Project activities in Somaliland.
As part of the project, UNICEF has trained members of 20 youth groups in northwest, northeast and central and southern Somalia in audio and video production skills as a step to empowering and giving voice to youth. Somaliland has eight youth groups involved in the project.
The youth produce programmes which relate to their own interests while covering areas under UNICEF's mandate - Health, Nutrition, Education, Water and Environmental Sanitation, Education, HIV/AIDS and Youth Development. UNICEF staff specializing in these programme areas help the youth develop appropriate and correct messages.
Special Events
International Women's Day: On March 8, UNICEF in collaboration with local authorities, organised activities to mark International Women's Day. In Hargeisa, women's groups organised a rally at Khayria Centre where speeches were delivered by politicians and women activists. NAGAAD, the local umbrella women's group, organised a discussion meeting at the Mansoor Hotel with the theme of total eradication of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Edna Aden, a local authority in Somaliland, was the keynote speaker during the occasion. A young girl who had undergone FGM gave a moving personal account of her experience. She said she had suffered to the extent that she had to quit school and said that she now envied other girls who did not have to endure the physical pain and psychological trauma of FGM.
The celebrations in Somaliland ended with a high-level reception hosted by the wife of the head of the local governing authority. In her speech she highlighted the achievements of women in Somaliland and the challenges to greater fulfillment of human rights for all citizens.
If you have questions about the UNICEF Somalia Monthly Review please contact: Robert Kihara, Assistant Communication Officer, E-mail: rkihara@unicef.org, OR
Julia Spry-Leverton, Communication Officer.E-mail: jspryleverton@unicef.org, Tel: 254-2-623958/ 623950/ 623862/ 623959/350410,Fax: 254-2-520640/ 623965
BBC Monitoring International Reports, March 31, 2004/Source: Xog-Ogaal, Mogadishu, in Somali 31 Mar 04) BBC Monitoring
ETHIOPIA SEEKING TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH SOMALILAND
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has said that he is determined to make a big change in his government's relations with the self-declared republic Somaliland, taking those relations to their highest level. Relations between the two sides have been clouded since the death of the former Somaliland President Muhammad Ibrahim Igal. (Passage omitted)
The report emerged after the president of the self-declared republic of Somaliland, Dahir Riyale Kahin, paid a four-day visit in Addis Ababa where he held talks with senior Ethiopian officials.
BBC Monitoring International Reports, March 30, 2004/Source: Radio Hargeysa in Somali 1700 gmt 30 Mar 04 ) BBC Monitoring
SOMALILAND PRESIDENT, US ENVOY HOLD TALKS IN ETHIOPIAN CAPITAL, DISCUSS TIES
Ms Aurelia Brazeal, the US ambassador in Addis Abbaba, Ethiopia, and other senior members of the US embassy have made a courtesy call on the president of the Republic of Somaliland, Dahir Riyale Kahin and his delegation at their hotel. The US ambassador, Ms Aurelia Brazeal, the president and cabinet members in his delegation, discussed bilateral relations.
The two sides agreed on what they discussed.
The Scotsman, March 30, 2004/BYLINE: Gethin Chamberlain Diplomatic Correspondent
MURDERED BRITONS THE TARGET OF AN AL-QAEDA GROUP, CLAIMS SOMALILAND
A BRITISH couple murdered by gunmen in the breakaway East African state of Somaliland were the victims of an al-Qaeda cell sent to kill humanitarian workers, the country's interior minister has claimed.
Richard Eyeington, 62, and his wife Enid, 61, died when a gunman opened fire through the window of their home as they sat watching television last October.
Two weeks earlier, gunmen had shot dead an Italian doctor in the country, and, two weeks ago, a Kenyan consultant working for a German aid agency was killed and her German colleague was injured in another gun attack.
Five men have already been arrested in connection with the killings, but other members of the group remain on the run.
Now Ismail Adan Osman, the country's interior minister, says the attacks were the work of an al-Qaeda cell sent to Somaliland from Mogadishu, in neighbouring Somalia, to kill foreign workers. Two of the al-Qaeda operatives identified by the Somaliland authorities are on a United States' wanted list.
According to Mr Osman, the five gunmen already arrested have confessed to carrying out the latest attack as part of a wider al-Qaeda-run operation.
The two men on the US wanted list are reported to have escaped to Mogadishu, which has long been considered by Washington to be a safe haven for al-Qaeda operatives.
Supporters of the al-Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden, are said to have orchestrated the campaign against US troops during the ill-fated intervention in Somalia in 1992, when dozens of United Nations troops lost their lives. In the most notorious incident, 18 US soldiers were killed when their Black Hawk helicopters were shot down in 1993.
The US recently sent troops back to Somalia to hunt for al-Qaeda terrorists thought to be hiding in the country, and to look for Somalis training for missions into Iraq. Last year, a US special forces operation ended with the seizure of a Yemeni al-Qaeda suspect.
Somaliland has also accused its neighbour of harbouring terrorist groups, and Mr Osman claimed that three of the five men arrested were related to the Somali interim president, Abdiqasim Salad Hasan.
It is the first time al-Qaeda has been linked to killings inside Somaliland, a relatively stable country which declared independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991 but which is still seeking international recognition.
However, the group is believed to have little support in the country, which is keen to win international recognition and to gain support for its anti -terrorist operations.
An editorial in the Somaliland Times, on Saturday spoke angrily of an attempt by al-Qaeda to destabilise the country.
It read: "Al-Qaeda wants to turn all the Somali-speaking territories in the Horn into another Afghanistan. (It is just a pity that these rich Wahabists should spend their money for causing further death and destruction to fellow Muslims).
"Secondly, al-Qaeda sees Somaliland's on-going democratic transformation as a threat against its Wahabist form of Islam, one of the main root-causes of current Islamist extremism. There is no doubt that the people of Somaliland will rise up to meet the challenges posed by the threat of terrorism."
A senior government official quoted by the paper said that Somaliland needed international assistance if it was to combat the terrorist threat.
"As long as potential terrorists continued enjoying sanctuary in Mogadishu and elsewhere in former Italian Somalia, coupled with the international community's continued failure to respond to Somaliland's repeated requests for external assistance, needed to substantially enhance the country's counter -terrorism capabilities, the terrorist threat would still be there," he said.
The murder of the Eyeingtons at the Sheikh Secondary School, 500 miles north of Mogadishu, prompted fears of an anti-western backlash as a result of the war in Iraq.
The couple had lived and worked in Africa for 30 years, and Mr Eyeington was headmaster at the school attended by Nelson Mandela's children.
Source: UN Children's Fund, 29 Mar 2004
Amid conflict, a ''miraculous'' victory over polio for Somalia
UNICEF calls for peace to ensure continued immunization campaigns
NAIROBI, 29 March 2004 - With the last case of polio reported in 2002, Somalia has been removed from the list of polio-endemic countries. As a major polio immunization campaign begins, UNICEF is calling this achievement a ''miraculous victory for children over conflict and devastation.'' ''If polio can be stopped in Somalia, it can be stopped anywhere,'' said Carol Bellamy, UNICEF's Executive Director. ''This success is a testament to the will of the Somali people and the effectiveness of strategies in place to stop the virus. If the remaining six endemic countries employ these strategies with equal determination, the world's children will be finally free of this crippling disease.''
Starting today, tens of thousands of vaccinators set out on the first of Somalia's 2004 National Immunization Days (NIDs), a three-day trek through the country's harsh and hostile environment to deliver the polio vaccine to every child under 5 years old. In previous years Somalia's NIDs have reached over 90 per cent of Somali children, an impressive figure in a country where the infrastructure remains devastated after years of relentless civil conflict.
Since they were launched eight years ago by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), the vaccination campaigns have acted as a vehicle for peace, achieving cooperation among communities and gaining access to locations which had formerly been ''no go areas.'' Militia have served as bodyguards for vaccinators moving through conflict zones.
But with heightened tension following the killing of two aid workers in Somaliland recently, Bellamy warned that the immunization campaign for children could still be sabotaged by needless violence. She urged Somali leaders to commit to a peace process designed to protect children's rights and ensure protection measures are effective.
UNICEF lauded the Somali people for working together to wipe out polio. ''In the absence of a central government over the last 13 years, the success of these initiatives has been based on the dedication of Somali communities,'' said Jesper Morch, UNICEF's Representative in Somalia. ''There is no question of resistance to immunization in Somalia. Somalis are determined to immunize their children, despite the huge challenges they face.''
Outside of Somalia, the global eradication campaign has recently been threatened by a crisis in Nigeria, where a suspension in immunization activities in Kano State due to fierce resistance by some local Islamic groups, has allowed the virus to re-infect eight formerly polio-free countries in west and central Africa.
In Somalia, however, traditional and Islamic leaders have been a major force behind the polio eradication programme, actively participating in immunization campaigns, and calling for communities to immunize their children by spreading the word through their announcements from the mosques.
''Somalia may now be free of polio, but Somali children are facing a host of other harsh challenges,'' said Bellamy. ''After years of devastating war and disruption, these children are among the most vulnerable in the world,''she said, urging the international community to provide the necessary resources to address this ''critical'' situation.
Less than half of Somalia's children are routinely immunized against infectious disease, a significant percentage are malnourished, and 224 in every thousand will die before they reach the age of five.
Bellamy also encouraged donor governments to close the $130 million funding gap for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative - money needed urgently to support the massive operation currently underway to get the polio vaccine to every child in Somalia and other countries where the virus still circulates, and also to maintain global surveillance for new polio cases.
''It would be a tragedy to allow polio to return to Somalia and other polio-free countries simply for lack of resources,'' she said.
The Polio Partners
The World Health Organization, Rotary International and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and UNICEF spearhead the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
The polio eradication coalition includes: the governments and local authorities of countries affected by poliomyelitis; private foundations (e.g. United Nations Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation); development banks (e.g. World Bank); donor governments (e.g. Canada, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, United Kingdom, Italy, and United States of America); the European Commission; humanitarian and non-governmental organizations (e.g. the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies); and corporate partners (e.g. Aventis Pasteur, Wyeth). Volunteers in developing countries also play a key role; 10 million have participated in mass immunization campaigns.
UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, foundations, businesses, and governments. Contributions to UNICEF's ongoing support for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative can be made at
http://www.supportunicef.org.
Africa News, March 29, 2004, BYLINE: UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
Somalia; National Immunisation Campaign Begins
Tens of thousands of vaccinators trekked across Somalia on Monday as a three-day national immunisation campaign targeting all children under five years was launched, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said in a statement.
UNICEF called for peace in the war-torn country to ensure continued immunisation campaigns. In what it described as a "miraculous victory for children over conflict and devastation", UNICEF said the last case of polio was reported in Somalia in 2002. The country had, as a result, been removed from the list of polio-endemic countries.
"If polio can be stopped in Somalia, it can be stopped anywhere," Carol Bellamy, UNICEF's Executive Director said in the statement. "This success is a testament to the will of the Somali people and the effectiveness of strategies in place to stop the virus. If the remaining six endemic countries employ these strategies with equal determination, the world's children will be finally free of this crippling disease."
According to UNICEF, previous national immunisation days had reached over 90 percent of Somali children, an "impressive figure in a country where the infrastructure remains devastated after years of relentless civil conflict".
Bellamy warned that with heightened tension following the killing of two aid workers in Somaliland recently, the immunisation campaign could still be sabotaged by needless violence. She urged Somali leaders "to commit to a peace process designed to protect children's rights and ensure protection measures are effective".
Jesper Morch, UNICEF's representative in Somalia, said in the statement: "In the absence of a central government over the last 13 years, the success of these initiatives has been based on the dedication of Somali communities. There is no question of resistance to immunisation in Somalia. Somalis are determined to immunise their children, despite the huge challenges they face." Less than half of Somalia's children were routinely immunised against infectious disease, a significant percentage were malnourished, and 224 in every 1,000 would die before reaching the age of five, UNICEF said.
BBC Monitoring International Reports, March 29, 2004/Source: Radio Hargeysa in Somali 1700 gmt 29 Mar 04 ) BBC Monitoring
SOMALILAND: PRESIDENT KAHIN HOLDS TALKS WITH ETHIOPIAN PREMIER
The president of the republic of Somaliland, HE Dahir Riyale Kahin, and a delegation he is leading that is currently in Ethiopia, today held talks with the Ethiopian prime minister, HE Meles Zenawi, and other government officials. The Somaliland president's delegation and Ethiopian officials discussed the strengthening of bilateral ties between Somaliland and Ethiopia in trade, security and in political affairs. The Ethiopian prime minister, Meles Zenawi, promised to strenghen the brotherly relations between Somaliland and Ethiopia. The president and his delegation will holds talks with the US ambassador to Ethiopia.
Source: Food Security Assessment Unit. 25 Mar 2004 (Source URL:http://www.unsomalia.org/FSAU/index.htm)
Monthly Nutrition Update for Somalia Mar 2004
OVERVIEW
This month we present the preliminary results of the first stage of a study on the relationship between nutrition, dietary diversity and food security in Somalia. The study results have provided interesting material for further discussion and analysis. While continuing to highlight a number of areas of concern throughout the country, a summary of a food security and nutrition project evaluation in Southern Somalia suggests some options for longer term interventions aimed at overcoming both longer term food insecurity and seasonal food deficits.
In Sool Plateau, reduced access has delayed the third round of sentinel site data collection. Meanwhile, a summary of existing information is provided in response to requests from partners. High malnutrition rates in areas of Ethiopia neighbouring Somalia are described in a separate article.
SOOL PLATEAU
The food security and nutrition situation in Sool plateau has been of increasing concern since mid 2003. The deteriorating food security situation has led to a decline in nutritional condition of the Sool population. Monitoring efforts by different agencies have consistently revealed a poor nutrition situation. Notable about the results, summarised below, is non
comparability due to differences in assessment methodologies and areas assessed.
ETHIOPIA: High malnutrition in the pastoral destination of Somali Region, Ethiopia
With common livelihood patterns and recent experience of poor Deyr rains, pastoralists in Northern and Central Somalia and those of Somali Region of Ethiopia mutually shared the meagre resources in Somali Region in late 2003. Influx of livestock and population into Ethiopia took place leading to increased pressure on pasture and water in the zones of Warder, Degahabour,
Afder and Korahe (Nutrition Update, Dec 2003). With significant decline of pastures and the start of severe water shortage in areas like Warder some of the pastoralists have been moving back into Somalia since mid January 2004, particularly to Togdheer and parts of Sool following short late Deyr rains. On the other hand, some livestock from Bakool and Hiran Regions of
Somalia arrived in Mustahil and Kelafo Districts of Gode in January 2004, leading to faster deterioration in pastures and water condition within Gode. Further depression of pastures is imminent with the onset of the Jilaal season and this may negatively affect the livestock body condition and production. The deteriorating water quality is also being associated with the increasing cases of diarrhoeal episodes (for example in Fiik Zone in February 2004).
Nutrition survey reports from the Somali Region indicate a poor nutrition situation. As shown in the table, the malnutrition and mortality rates in Aware Woreda of Degabour Zone, Fafan and Harti Sheikh IDP camps in Jijiga Zone and in Gode District indicate persistence of the emergency in the region. The situation is worsened by the prevailing poor food security situation. The pastoral livelihood will obviously be further undermined by the current normal dry Jilaal season. This has the potential to further affect the nutritional condition of the Somali Region population and as well as the immigrant population. With the arrival of the herds from Hiran and Bakool Regions of Somalia, fast depletion of pasture and water within Gode is imminent and will affect the milk availability. Milk scarcity is already being experienced and is likely to persist to the end of Jilaal season. Humanitarian agencies are now extending coverage of assistance to areas not earlier covered, for instance supplementary feeding programmes, mobile health services, food aid distribution and water points maintenance in Warder and Degabour zones. Supplementary and therapeutic feeding programmes are continuing in Jijiga and Gode zones.
NUGAAL REGION ¨C low levels of malnutrition and food insecurity The food security challenges currently experienced in most parts of Northern Somalia is spreading southwards towards Nugaal Region. The affected areas include Sinujif, Kalaber, Hasbahalle Qarhis and Garowe. Pastoralists out migrated in November 2003 towards Somali Region of Ethiopia, Southern Nugaal, Galkayo and Goldogob. Pasture decline caused pastoral migration while the November and December 2003 light rains in Southern Nugal and parts of Mudug triggered pasture
recovery, thus prompting unusual in- migration of pastoralists and livestock. Eastern Burtinle and Nugaal valley part of Nugaal Region in particular experienced harsh condition earlier than other parts in Nugaal. Deplorable livestock body condition, high livestock mortality rates (including pack animals) and absenc e of livestock conception was noted. However, water has been available in most parts of Nugaal.
The current food security situation has plunged some families into destitution as reported in Garowe and Eyl in January and February 2004. The destitute families have mainly lost their livestock and the coping strategies employed (gifts and credit) are currently not reliable. Nutrition data from the health facilities in the region reflect relatively low levels of malnutrition in the past one year (2003) compared to previous years. Majority of the health facilities persistently reported less than 10% malnutrition among the children screened monthly. In Sinujiif, an average of 100 children was screened monthly with a malnutrition rate of between 1.4% and 12.5% being reported. In Eyl MCH, an average of 140 children was screened monthly and the malnutrition rates were persistently below 7%, with the exception of December 2003 (17.5%). In view of the food security conditions, the low levels of malnutrition rates observed at
the MCH's suggests a level of coping although the actual extent to which affected populations have moved from these areas has not been captured. Plans are current ly underway for a more detailed assessment in the area. In February 2004, ACF has conducted a nutrition survey covering Garowe, Burtinle and Dangorayo. Analysis is in progress.
TRAINING COURSES & ANNOUNCEMENTS
As part of its s hort course series, the Regional Centre for Quality of Health Care (RCQHC) is offering a course on Quality of Health Care in Uganda from 9 - 20 August 2002. The course aims at equipping health providers with knowledge and skills required for improving the quality of health care services in their settings . Deadline for applications is April 30th 2004. For more details contact the administrative assistant on email: rnauma@rcqhc.org or dtindyebwa@rcqhc.org. AMREF International Training Programme-is offering courses on (i) Management and Promotion of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights from 12th ¨C 23rd April 2004. The course targets managers of projects or institutions in reproductive health programs. (ii) Management and Sustainability of Programmes/Projects from 3rd to 13th May 2004 targeting Senior and Middle level managers of programs. (iii) Community Based Health Care from 3rd to 28th May 2004 targeting Senior and middle managers of community initiatives in health and health related professions. For more details contact African Medical and Research Foundation at Email: amreftraining@amref.org or w ebsite:
http://www.amref.org.
BBC Monitoring International Reports, March 28, 2004/Source: Radio Hargeysa in Somali 1700 gmt 28 Mar 04) BBC Monitoring
SOMALILAND PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN ETHIOPIA AFTER EUROPEAN TOUR
The president of Somaliland, Dahir Riyale Kahin, and his delegation arrived in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, this morning. During its visit to Britain and Belgium, the delegation held talks with officials of these countries and Somaliland societies in western Europe. The delegation, which left the country on 12 March, is expected to hold talks with Ethiopian officials shortly.
M2 PRESSWIRE, March 24, 2004/DATELINE: NEW YORK, (OCHA)
UN Emergency relief coordinator condemns killing of aid worker in Somalia
The international humanitarian community is condemning an attack in Somaliland which has left one aid worker dead and two others injured. On 19 March, staff of the German Agency for Technical Assistance were ambushed outside Berabera in Somaliland.
"This killing of one of our colleagues is a tragic reminder of the risks humanitarian workers face every day." "Such attacks cannot be tolerated", said Jan Egeland, The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator. "I extend my sincere condolences to the victim's family and wish those who were injured a full and speedy recovery."
In a statement on 19 March, The Somalia Aid Coordination Body comprising donors, United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations expressed its deep shock and sorrow over the attack. The Coordination Body sees this most recent tragedy as a continuing serious deterioration in security focused on international aid workers in Somalia. The Coordination Body added that it expects the Somaliland Administration to do everything necessary to bring the perpetrators to justice.
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