SOMALIA: Resettlement of drought-displaced begins

SOMALIA: Resettlement of drought-displaced begins

NAIROBI, 29 November 2011 (IRIN) - Resettlement of tens of thousands of drought-displaced Somalis, most of whom had sought refuge in the capital, Mogadishu, is under way, with aid agencies organizing voluntary returns to several areas in southern Somalia, officials told IRIN.

 "We started a project to resettle some 4,000 families [24,000 people] back to their homes in time for them to take advantage of what is left of the rainy season," said Mohamed Abdullahi Hussein, the director of the United Arab Emirates-Red Crescent Society (UAE-RCS) in Somalia.

 Hussein said the agency was providing the returnees with food to last three months, shelter material and between US$100 and $150 per family.

 The returns are voluntary, with most going to Bay, Bakool and Lower Shabelle regions of southern Somalia, Hussein added.

 Abdullahi Shirwa, head of Somalia's National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), said it was the government's policy to resettle all internally displaced persons (IDPs). "It is not realistic to maintain hundreds of thousands people in overcrowded IDP camps indefinitely. So the best option is to help return those willing to do so to their home areas."

 Shirwa said NDMA had scheduled a meeting this week with aid agencies in Mogadishu to organize a programme of resettlement.

 "We basically want to see who can do what," he said. "There are agencies that can provide the food; others can provide the transportation, while others can provide shelter material or cash incentives."

 Since UAE-RCS began the return process in November, some 460 drought-displaced families have gone home.

 "On 28 November we repatriated 261 families [1,566 people] back to Bay region," said Abubakar Sheikh Bashir, team leader for the UAE-RCS resettlement project.

 He said many of the returnees, mostly farmers, were eager to take advantage of the best rains in three years "and restart their lives".

 Bashir said many families have already returned on their own, "while others sent back the able-bodied and left behind the elderly, the women and children".

 Bishaaro Haji Alin, 45, lost four of her nine children in the drought that devastated her home area in Buur Hakaba in Bay region.

 "I was here in the camp for the last six months; if we did not come here I could have lost all of my children," Alin told IRIN by telephone, as she boarded a truck back home.

 Alin said she was eager to start planting. "My children are fine and we want to go back to where we belong. We got help here but it is not home."

 Home for Alin and her family, along with some 10,000 families, had been the sprawling Tribunka camp, the largest in Mogadishu.

 Shirwa of the NDMA said the key to resettling the drought-displaced IDPs was to provide them with enough support to allow them to restart their lives.

 "Most of the displaced are agro-pastoralists and so it is not enough to say we will give them food until the next harvest; we need to provide them also with some pack animals and maybe two or three cows or whatever animals they had before," Shirwa said, adding "that will not only empower them but help them start afresh."

 ah/mw

[END]

SOMALIA: Al-Shabab ban on agencies threatens aid

SOMALIA: Al-Shabab ban on agencies threatens aid

NAIROBI, 28 November 2011 (IRIN) - The main Islamist insurgent group in Somalia, which is still in the throes of a major food crisis classified as famine in some regions, has banned 16 aid agencies, including several UN bodies, from operating in areas under its control, accusing them of "illicit activities and misconduct".

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO), UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) are some of the UN agencies banned. The Norwegian Refugee Council, Danish Refugee Council, Concern, Norwegian Church Aid and Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI) are among the international NGOs banned by Al-Shabab.

UNICEF spokesman Jaya Murthy told IRIN that men came to the office in Baidao, 240km southwest of the capital, Mogadishu, and told the staff to leave and that the office was no longer UNICEF's.

"Our staff are safe and we are assessing the impact the closure will have on our humanitarian activities in southern Somalia," Murthy said.

The prospect of permanent closure faced by the agencies could lead to the deaths of thousands of vulnerable people, a civil society member in Mogadishu said. "This is truly bad news for tens of thousands that depend on these agencies."

He said it was not clear what prompted Al-Shabab's action but suspected that it was "because of the military pressure they have been under lately, maybe they are seeing enemies everywhere".

On October 16, Kenya began a military incursion [ http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=94018 ] into neighbouring Somalia, using terrestrial, aerial and naval assets, with the aim of neutralizing Al-Shabab, which Nairobi says threatens its security and economy.

Murthy said: "UNICEF is extremely concerned about any disruption of its humanitarian work and the feeding of 160,000 severely malnourished children. Any disruption could result in the death of those children."

He said the agency had not received anything in writing from the group.

In a statement issued on 28 November, Al-Shabab accused the agencies of "financing, aiding and abetting subversive groups seeking to destroy the basic tenets of Islamic penal system", adding that the agencies were "persistently galvanizing the local population against the full establishment of Islamic Sharia system".

The group said the aid agencies lacked "political detachment and neutrality with regard to the conflicting parties in Somalia, thereby intensifying the instability and insecurity gripping the nation as a whole".

In addition, the agencies were accused of misappropriating funds and using corruption and bribery in their operations.

"From bad to worse"

The civil society source said if the ban stands, "it could make the humanitarian situation in the country go from bad to worse. I just hope it will be a temporary thing."

The UN has reclassified the regions of Bay, Bakool and Lower Shabelle in southern Somalia to "humanitarian emergency" from "famine/humanitarian catastrophe".

According to the UN, humanitarian needs persist, with 250,000 out of a former 750,000 Somalis "still at risk of starvation".

Here is the full list of the agencies banned by Al-Shabab: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, World Health Organisation, United Nations Children's Fund, United Nations Population Fund, United Nations Office for Project Services, Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit, Norwegian Refugee Council, Danish Refugee Council, Concern, Norwegian Church Aid, Cooperazione Internazionale, Swedish African Welfare Alliance, German Agency For Technical Cooperation, Action Contre la Faim, Solidarity and Saacid.

ah/am/mw

SOMALIA: UN STRONGLY CONDEMNS SEIZURE OF AID AGENCY ASSETS BY INSURGENT GROUP

SOMALIA: UN STRONGLY CONDEMNS SEIZURE OF AID AGENCY ASSETS BY INSURGENT GROUP

Senior United Nations officials today voiced grave concern over the seizure by members of Somalia's Al-Shabaab insurgent group of property belonging to United Nations agencies and several non-governmental organizations (NGOS) striving to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the country's south.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the seizure "in the strongest possible terms," saying that the "brazen" action prevented the relief organizations from providing life-saving assistance to those in need.

"The Secretary-General demands that Al-Shabaab vacate the premises and return seized property to the affected agencies and NGOs," said a statement issued by his spokesperson. "He calls for the ban imposed today by Al-Shabaab against these humanitarian organizations to be lifted immediately."

Valerie Amos, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, warned that any disruption of relief efforts threatens to undermine the fragile progress made in saving the lives of hundreds of thousands people affected by a severe food crisis caused by the devastating drought in the Horn of African earlier this year.

Famine conditions could return to some of the affected areas in Somalia if relief work is interfered with, Ms. Amos, who is also the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, said in a statement.

She also called upon groups associated with Al-Shabaab to withdraw immediately from humanitarian compounds seized in the south-central regions of Bakool, Bay and Hiraan, and Lower Shabelle in the south, and to desist from any further actions which would threaten humanitarian operations and the safety of aid workers.

Humanitarian relief efforts have saved thousands of lives since the declaration of famine in a number of areas in July, but the situation in central and southern Somalia remains critical. Four million people are still in crisis and 250,000 face famine, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which Ms. Amos heads.

Humanitarian organizations working in Somalia remain strictly neutral, with their only task being to save lives, she said, urging all parties to the conflict in Somalia to respect international humanitarian law.

Press reports indicated that Al-Shabaab had issued a statement banning 16 relief organizations, including several UN agencies, from working in areas under the group's control, accusing them of "illicit activities and misconduct."

Meanwhile, representatives of Somalia's civil society attending a consultative meeting in the capital, Mogadishu, have expressed full support for an agreed roadmap on ending the country's transition period and usher in stability and effective governance.

"I am very optimistic that your presence here is a major landmark and milestone," said Augustine Mahiga, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia at the end of the three-day civil society consultative meeting on ending the transition. "Civil society is the bridge between political differences. The power is in your hands – help us."

The meeting brought together 60 representatives of religious leaders, clan elders, the business community, the diaspora, youth and women's groups. It was facilitated by the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS), and was also attended by representatives of the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs), the Puntland and Galmudug regional administrations, as well as the Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama'a group.

Sub: An open letter to Professor Suleiban and Amoud Alumni Association:

Sub: An open letter to Professor Suleiban and Amoud Alumni Association: Last Modified: Wed 26th Oct,2011 The Republican Dear professors Suleiman, please accept my best regards and congratulations towards the fantastic job that you and your team always pursue in the University. After that, I would like to mention how I'm so amazed, to see the beautiful and the well-equipped current campus; the other day of my revisit.This is an image which is really opposite to the pass one. Having seen this attractive campus has automatically, activated my past memories up and thus conceived to discuss a couple of issues concerning about my special feelings, which I must submit here as well as to leave a message to anyone who always concerns the University wellbeing. Since I'm hearing some different messages, those are coming from in my previous Amoud experience-to those reflecting and reminding my classmates and me, the long journey that we took, It became necessary to point out how it was rough to deal with or eliminate the bad impact and rumors which existed among the society whom we used to live with and daily interact at that time. Because people were wondering how this idea of opening a University would work, since the whole schooling system has been absent so long and collapsed completely. And the debate could be worse sometimes when they insist their bad impression towards it. But we never pay any attention, since we adopted a new way of life which difference than others- to prove it, we decided to ignore any kind of setbacks and just let our ears to hear some exciting and entertaining news from others, since we want to succeed for our mission, we choose to seek motivations, rather than disappointment. As we all know, we were a group of students, who were very unique and committed to pave the bumpy road, believing with, that there was a rough road ahead which is winding but carries fruitful future advantages for all,to the local communities, to the country and the Horn in general.One of the main reasons I'm posting this article is to echo, and remind the others how it was rough to study here in the previous years, according to the shortage of books, seats, and the scarcity of water, and the electricity which we used to enjoy throughout the years of our studying period as the first batch. All though nothing comes easy but lucky enough, we were all successful. There is no doubt that we turned on a fully lighting candle which cannot be turned off. However this was an expensive experience, which we always live with and proud of, where ever we are. The purpose behind addressing these difficult circumstance of teaching methods or study,that we have had at that time, is to let the others (current& future students) to know how lucky they are, but most importantly,is to leave a piece of information to any uninformed groups of people or individuals how hard we have worked that mission out!. In addition to that, it came in to my mind to mention, that your tangible community input cannot be said in words, but deserve a meaning full historic element to be especially built for you, by the stakeholders as a memorial. Today, I will not be reluctant to put forward my initiative towards building and architecting a true monument which comes under your name, while you are alive, not when you die. The purpose is to get a symbol that represent or stands the specific hard work that you have done and achieved throughout the years of your leadership. On the other hand, it will be a living sample of measurement which might be based on any future and present activities that may be carried out by the University leaders. I would like to assure or point out, that the future generations should read your name( Pro.S.A.Guleid) as everyone now reads, picture taken and watches the famous stone named by C.V.Obells' that's laid by him under the wall in 1952, which is clearly visible while heading to the main office. There will be a fallow up plans and proposals concerning about laying a strong foundation of the above mentioned task and will be funded internally, not externally. What do I mean internally? I mean, all Amoud alumni students will be invited for this project first and then, teachers. So, these kinds of activities will reciprocal a way to recall the Amoud family different groups, such as the first donors, community leaders, drivers, teachers and the respected students from 1997 up to present. Especially those who pioneer and devoted their time and energy to turn the University dream in to a reality one. Because this kind of new opinion has been circulating around only in the minds of a few people those has been also lacking enough support in the public eye at that time.Therefore, we decided to prove it, as we did it successfully. Thanks to the almighty. This first group also deserves a special recognition since we know that they played a major role for this history making, though the history repeats itself, but cannot be lightly taken in anyway, since they are the potential-present teachers as well as leaders. And they themselves have to recognize that they have an everlasting role to play, where ever they are when it comes to contribution. And I believe that the first role we are required for is to connect and set up an effective communication network channels that ought, to unite all Amoud Alumni to payback it something in return. And that's the only way as Amoud product can exercise feasibly and may represent a good example to fallow by others, as well as to show, how we are willing to lead and committed to make some changes i.e. • Idea sharing. • Initiating an empirical development action towards the society: - which includes eliminatingthe bad attitudes among the society into better ones. • We will enlighten the dark edges and barriers among the people and can let them know also, that there is a better way of living and governing system ahead that is must to targetand reachable in the future; but achievable only through trust and respect among each other.Being the first class, we put forward and registered an Alumni association, soon after we've graduated from Amoud University-knowing that, it was necessary to establish it but has been paid less interest so many years. Nevertheless, we want to refresh it now, since it is the only unique way that can bring the long separated family together again. On the other hand, I want to encourage all different graduates from the university, to keep this upcoming family re-union in mind and spare some time and energy for this getting together cession which is planned to be held at Amoud main hall of conferences by unscheduled time yet, but shall be announced later officially. And possibly; may be held annually. These intellectually, revised proposals could be amended through under group discussion, because discussions are the core values and guidelines that this entity belongs. The results or the outcome of this meeting will be handed out and submitted to the main beneficiaries. By the way, these above rose and discussed point of issues, cannot be possible or productive enough unless receiving a sincere tangible support from the administration in terms of, ideologically acceptance and facilitation wise. Therefore, we are appealing to the executives to show and give a healthy, and friendly working co-operation with the Alumni, so we can all benefit from that easily. Illustrated by the First Amoud Student Chairman: Abdullahi M Horri

I don’t want to live "the law of the jungle" By: Dr. A.E.Obsiye

I don't want to live "the law of the jungle" By: Dr. A.E.Obsiye
Written by Dr.Abdi Elmi Obsiye   


As you may understand- the law of the jungle is the way in which the strongest and cleverest people in a society stay alive or succeed. I have been following with interest the news of my beloved ugaas Abdirashiid Rooble for the day of his arrival till today . I understand almost all the community of Awdal/Salal had welcomed him with great enthusiasm. My community had witnessed a high quality leadership "under a series of ugaas heritage" Thanks to Allah who had gave us the courage of reviving it again. It is misfortunate that our community had lost many of its benefits during his absence. (Ugaas's absence) .Next, I do have to thank to my élites and intellectuals in Diaspora who had initiated and processed this issue of leadership. While the debate and the arrangements of the "ugaas" leadership was going on in abroad (between the Diaspora community of Awdal andSalal region) everyone at home welcomed at heart with high inspiration and could hardly wait the arrival of "ugaas Abdirashiid" .If you reflect back how the rest of the S/land regions arrange and appoint their leadership you will find out- how the rule of the discipline and the order is respected. Yes, of course nobody wants to live "the law of jungle." We have to listen each other and respect from one another and others will respect our concern. There is a saying – wise men don't need to prove their points, men who need to prove their points are not wise.

As I write this article , the vice – president of Somaliland H.E.Mr.Adibiraaman Adulaahi Saylici is on the way to visit Awdal/Salal Region to solve some minor issues among his community. In solving such issues will of course back up the career of his political ambition if not… . yes it is true opportunity to our community to see again the new light of the horizon, and I am very glad to see how the majority of his people supported the beloved Ugaas Cabdirashiid Ugaas Rooble.

During my Universities study I have learnt that our thoughts give out moods, our attitude and our actions. I have also learnt that superficial focused thinking produces a superficial unfocused life.

O' My God lead me from hate to love

O' My God lead me from Unger to pleasure

O' my God lead me from hell to heaven

O' My God lead me from injustice to fairness

I hope my beloved Ugaas will show fairness, Honesty, Equity and Justice to his community of Awdal and Salal Region.

?

By: Dr. Abdi Elmi Obsiye

Borama,Awdal region

Abdirahmanobsi3@hotmail

Hearing Dadaab's cries

Hearing Dadaab's cries

As thousands stream into a Kenyan refugee camp, we are reminded of the need to prevent famine through foreign aid

By Michael Hill

DADAAB, Kenya—

—As the small plane entered the pattern to land at this town on the eastern edge of Kenya, the view from the window was of miles and miles of scrubby landscape, low trees and bushes almost the same brown color as the sandy earth beneath them. Hardly noticeable were the small buildings and many tents that have put this place on the international map. They were covered with the ubiquitous brown dust that would soon blow in my face as I stepped onto the tarmac.

Dadaab has become host to one of the largest refugee populations in the world. Two decades ago, about 100,000 Somalis began crossing the border with Somalia, some 60 miles away. These were political refugees escaping turmoil in their native land, best known in the United States for the deadly 1993 battle that killed 19 U.S. troops, as chronicled in the book "Black Hawk Down" by Baltimore native Mark Bowden.

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As in many refugee communities around the world, these Somalis — living amid their ethnic kin — became semi-permanent residents, their camp a small city with its own downtown trading area. Now, more than 300,000 more Somalis have joined them. They have made the difficult trek over barren land after the failure of several rains. Simply put, there is no food in Somalia. Hunger has driven them to Dadaab.

What is surprising about Dadaab is that it is relatively orderly, given the possibility of chaos that could accompany such a huge number of people descending on a place of such limited development. Certainly, there has been some insecurity, most recently the kidnapping of two aid workers from Doctors Without Borders. These have led the Kenyan government to send troops into Somalia, which could change the atmosphere. But for now, these security breaches are isolated incidents and, if anything, force even more order, as all movement must be carefully choreographed with security precautions in mind. The refugee camps themselves are not haphazard collections of thrown-together hovels, but organized settlements built along clear grids, with roads and water points and sanitation facilities and other areas clearly evident.

Though the Kenyan government has been a bit reluctant to approve expansion — understandable since it is unclear how permanent these camps will be — an entire new camp is being laid out. I was out there because my employer, Baltimore-based Catholic Relief Services, is one of the humanitarian agencies at work in Dadaab. Among other projects, CRS is constructing latrines for at least a quarter of the new Kambioos camp. Several thousand refugees had already moved in. Maybe 100,000 are on the way.

Families live in tents, hardly luxurious but decent shelter. The new arrivals do not seem malnourished — though their babies look alarmingly small for their age. They all tell the same story, how hunger drove them to come to Dadaab. Some were robbed by bandits along the way. Those with the means hired cars to take them. One 94-year-old woman rode a donkey.

What becomes clear from their stories is that the real horror of this drought is out of sight. It is over the border in Somalia. And security is so difficult there that no reporters or cameras are telling and showing that story.

For a while, the media did show the Dadaab story, and the world responded with aid — though much more is needed because this is not going away any time soon. But after a while, there was nothing new to show here, just the same story, over and over. And other than a few spots in Mogadishu — itself a very dangerous city — it was impossible to show Somalia. So the cameras moved on to other places.

Some still noticed. Earlier this month, Pope Benedict XVI told a weekly audience that "concrete aid" is needed in the region "for so many brothers and sisters who are suffering so badly," and "for the children who die every day."

But it is out of sight in Somalia, where the United Nation has declared a famine — the world's first in almost two decades. It is in Somalia that 750,000 people are in danger of dying from lack of food. Unfortunately, they are doing it off camera. There are no easy answers to Somalia. But there will be no answers at all unless we pay attention, no answers unless we know what questions to ask.

This crisis does answer one question: Is foreign aid worth it? As Congress considers drastic cuts in poverty-focused aid (though it makes up less than 1 percent of the federal budget) it must be noted that the places where aid dollars have been spent, where humanitarian workers have been drilling wells and improving agriculture and building dams, people are surviving this drought in a way they wouldn't have a few decades ago.

It is much more cost effective — and compassionate — to help people develop ways of coping with the vagaries of climate than to try to come to their rescue when they face starvation. The refugees of Dadaab could tell Congress that.

Michael Hill, a former Baltimore Sun reporter, is senior writer at Catholic Relief Services. His email ishillforg@aol.com.

AU envoy urges negotiations with Somalia rebels

AU envoy urges negotiations with Somalia rebels

 
By James Macharia

NAIROBI (Reuters) - The African Union special envoy for Somalia on Wednesday urged countries waging war on al Shabaab to keep an open door to negotiations with militants who are willing to lay down their weapons.

Neighbouring Kenya sent hundreds of troops into southern Somalia in mid-October to crush the Islamist insurgents it blames for a series of kidnappings on its soil and regular cross-border attacks. Its air force has launched sporadic strikes on what it says are rebel targets.

Ethiopia also sent dozens of military trucks and armoured vehicles into central Somalia over the weekend, witnesses said.

"I'm not saying that Kenya should consider negotiating with al Shabaab. I'm saying that all of us engaged in the effort to bring stability to Somalia should not shut the door to combatant elements who would want to put aside their weapons and talk politics," said Jerry Rawlings, former president of Ghana and now AU representative for Somalia.

"Even as we are doing combat ... let's also create an opening for them to come on board politically. Let's not shut all the doors to them," Rawlings told a news conference in Nairobi.

The AU has backed Kenya's pursuit of al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab inside Somalia to secure stability in the Horn of Africa country and ensure Kenya's own security. But Rawlings warned on Wednesday that the conflict would be complex and bloody.

"It is important to maintain the support of the local populace," he said. "The exercise that your armed forces are going to undertake is a complex one, because a lot of it will involve fighting in urban dwelling areas, and you will have to be prepared for some casualties."

Somalia's Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali told Reuters in September that his government was open to talks with al Shabaab's top commanders and informal talks had been held.

Al Shabaab, fighting to impose a harsh interpretation of sharia law on the nation, have vowed to revenge against the region's biggest economy and bring the "flames of war" to its neighbour.

LIBERATION?

Kenya's Defence Minister Yusuf Haji, who attended the news conference, declined to say whether the east African nation would negotiate with any al Shabaab rebels. He reiterated that Kenya had the right to pursue the enemy inside Somali territory.

"What we are trying to do is liberate as many areas of Somalia as possible," Haji said.

He urged Rawlings to help secure the assistance of the AU peacekeeping force, AMISOM, "to come and take position in the liberated areas whenever it is necessary".

About 9,000 Ugandan and Burundian soldiers make up AMISOM, which is propping up the shaky Western-backed Somali government and now controls much of the capital Mogadishu after al Shabaab withdrew in August from the coastal city.

The Horn of Africa country has been racked by violence since the overthrow of dictator Siad Barre in 1991 allowed first warlords, then Islamist militants, to step into the political vacuum.

Ethiopia publicly denies its forces are inside Somalia. Addis Ababa has said a decision on whether to join the assault against al Shabaab in some form would be taken on Friday at a meeting of east African heads of state.

Ethiopia entered Somalia in December 2006, with tacit U.S. backing and at the invitation of a Somali government, and left under a cloud in 2009 after routing a previous Islamist administration. But Ethiopia's perceived occupation deeply angered many Somalis, helping to swell the ranks of al Shabaab.

Asked if the Ethiopians' re-entry into Somalia would be well received, Rawlings said: "Quite frankly I think they have learnt the necessary lessons and the feedback we are getting is that they are coming on board, we are on the same page."

How to deal with moody men

How to deal with moody men

NOV 8, 2011 | ZENOYISE MADIKWA |

Modern-day moody male syndrome

DOWN IN THE DUMPS: Men are not as strong as they pretend.

 Male stress tends to be taken out on the partners that we are in relationship with 

HE GOES all quiet for no reason and doesn't say a single word to you. He just sits there and looks miserable. He is withdrawn, easily agitated and blows up minor issues out of all proportion.

When you ask him what the problem is he says it's nothing to do with you and that he's OK. His silent treatment is driving you crazy. One day he's fine and laughing and joking, the next he's not saying a word and most of the time his mood swings have no grounds whatsoever.

Psychotherapist Jed Diamond calls this problem "irritable male syndrome" (IMS), in his book Irritable Male Syndrome. He says even men fall victim to hormone fluctuations.

He says IMS can be defined as a state of hypersensitivity, frustration, anxiety, and anger that occurs in males and is associated with biochemical changes, hormonal fluctuations, stress and loss of male identity.

Diamond said the biggest reason men were moody was that there were more new and deadly stresses facing men than ever before.

He said that in the past, stress came from physical sources.

"A wild animal would run into the camp or there would be physical danger. And men knew how to respond to that - the fight or flight response.

"But now stress comes from many other sources. From too much traffic, from where our country is going and the direction we're going and so on. The traditional male responses don't work. We can't fight it if we don't know what it is. As a result, male stress tends to be taken out on the partners that we are in relationship with."

Amazingly, a study at the University of British Columbia, Canada, shows that women are programmed to be attracted to moody or gloomy men.

Asiphe Ndlela, a psychologist, says this is because happy, smiling nice guys don't appear as strong, powerful or masculine as those with a bad attitude.

"Men, on the other hand, are more inclined to fancy happy, smiling women because they seem more approachable and submissive."

But is it not women who are notorious for being the moody sex?

Ndlela says we all experienced moody moments, but men and women just handled moodiness differently. The change in a man's mood could be triggered by hormone fluctuations (the same as in females) or stress.

She says men and women approached problem solving differently.

"Men can just get quiet, not say anything to anyone, keep things to themselves, because they don't want to be seen as whiners, while women talk about issues they feel unhappy about."

Ndlela says communication with a moody partner wasn't always easy.

"When your partner gets moody like that, it is important to stay calm. Understand your husband's need for space at times. Be there for him if he needs you, but let him work through his own frustrations.

"Don't get easily offended, don't get selfish. Show him some affection, but don't overdo it."

She says it is important to maintain your own good mood. There's no need for both of you to be moody. But if your partner's moodiness does not pass, it could be a sign of something more serious, such as depression.

Mpho Malatje of Masibambane Family Group in Khayelitsha said that from a young age, men were taught that showing emotions was a sign of weakness. Malatje said emotional baggage "comes out in spurts for men

SOMALIA’S LEADERS COMMIT TO UN PROCESS TO END RECRUITMENT OF CHILD SOLDIERS

SOMALIA'S LEADERS COMMIT TO UN PROCESS TO END RECRUITMENT OF CHILD SOLDIERS
New York, Nov 23 2011  6:10PM
The United Nations envoy for children and armed conflict today secured a commitment from top officials in Somalia's transitional Government to start a process to end the recruitment and use of children in the country's armed forces.

Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, secured the commitment from the President and the Prime Minister during her <"http://www.un.org/children/conflict/english/pr/2011-11-23277.html">visit to Mogadishu, the capital, where she also spoke with children who had escaped from the ranks the Al-Shabaab insurgency, which is fighting against the Transitional Federal Government (TFG).

"Completion of an action plan will ensure that the TFG is child-free," said Ms. Coomaraswamy. It would also "allow the United Nations to remove the Government from the 'list of shame' of parties that commit grave violations against children."

During the meeting with Ms. Coomaraswamy, President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali and Defence Minister Hussein Arab Essa recommitted the TFG to the signing and implementation of a Security Council-mandated plan to end the recruitment and use of children in its forces, and pledged to immediately nominate military and civilian focal points within the Government to work with the UN to achieve that goal.

Ms. Coomaraswamy visited a camp in Mogadishu where Al Shabaab defectors and those who had surrendered are being held. Among them are 37 former child soldiers. She met with a 16-year-old boy who escaped after being trained as a suicide bomber and was injured in battle.

The boy's case "highlights the fact that children associated with Al Shabaab are victims," she said. "They must be transferred rapidly to civilian child protection actors, and be separated as soon as possible from adult Al Shabaab ex-combatants in order to begin the transition back to civilian life."

The UN supports programmes for the reintegration of children associated with armed forces and groups. Such programmes promote rehabilitation of children through counselling, back-to-school initiatives and skills-based training, including family reunification.

In a meeting with Ms. Coomaraswamy, General Fred Mugisha, the commander of the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM), reiterated the force's commitment to protecting civilians, and children in particular, during military operations.

He pledged to continue to provide maximum support for efforts to identify and separate children from the TFG forces, including through the appointment of a child protection advisor in AMISOM.

Ms. Coomaraswamy urged all UN partners to work closely with the TFG, AMISOM, and donors to step up efforts to prevent the recruitment of children, and the release and reintegration of those formerly associated with armed forces and groups.

"With Mogadishu more secure following the withdrawal of Al Shabaab, the onus is on the international community to assist the Government's efforts towards stability," said Ms. Coomaraswamy.

Both the TFG and Al Shabaab are listed in the Secretary-General's annual report on children and armed conflict as recruiters and users of child soldiers. Listed parties must sign and implement action plans to end the grave violation or face the possibility of Security Council sanctions.

The Security Council in June expanded the criteria for offences that can lead to sanctions in Somalia to include grave violations against children.

INVESTMENT IN CHILDREN IS PAYING OFF, BUT IT MUST REACH MOST VULNERABLE – UN REPORT

INVESTMENT IN CHILDREN IS PAYING OFF, BUT IT MUST REACH MOST VULNERABLE – UN REPORT
New York, Nov 23 2011  5:10PM
Children's well-being has improved dramatically thanks to increased global political will and efficient supportive programmes and policies, according to a <"http://www.unicef.org/media/files/Progress_in_child_well-being.pdf">report released today by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Save the Children UK, but it also warns that benefits need to reach the most disadvantaged children for gains to be sustainable.

"We have seen remarkable results largely because of strong political will by countries, matched by the commitment and support of the international community, especially donors, to invest in the social sector," <"http://www.unicef.org/media/media_60687.html">said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake.

However, he added that "we must continue to make investments in the social sector targeted at reaching the hardest to reach — in order to expand those gains and contribute to sustainable economic growth."

Among the most prominent accomplishments highlighted by the report is the significant decline in child mortality rates. Last year, 12,000 fewer children under five died every day compared to 1990. Malnutrition also declined in developing countries in the past 18 years from 40 to 29 per cent, and children enrolment in pre-primary education increased by almost 40 per cent from 113 million to 157 million.

The authors of the report cite a number of factors for these advancements, but place particular emphasis on the high-level commitment and supportive government policies that have placed children's well-being as a priority.

Another influencing factor has been an increase in targeted spending by countries and development assistance organizations. For example, the report makes direct links between levels of aid and the reduction in infant mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, finding that an additional one cent of annual aid per capita is associated with a reduction in infant mortality of 0.4 deaths per 1,000 infants.

In countries such as Bangladesh, which used to have a high child mortality rate, strong economic growth has fuelled poverty reduction programmes and as a result its under-five mortality rate declined by 67 per cent between 1990 and 2010.

However, UNICEF and Save the Children warned that much remains to be done, stressing that there is great need to focus on the poorest households, which have the highest rates of child deaths.

According to Save the Children UK, if the 42 developing countries that account for more than 90 per cent of child deaths all increased their efforts to cut under-five mortality and made progress across all income groups at the same rate as for the fastest-improving income group, an additional four million child deaths could be prevented over 10 years.

The report was released just before the 4th High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness next week in Busan, South Korea, where world leaders will meet to review progress in improving the impact of development aid, ahead of the deadline for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the UN goals of slashing poverty, hunger, lack of access to health care and education, and a host of other ills, all by 2015.

SOMALIA: Telling the story against all odds

SOMALIA: Telling the story against all odds

NAIROBI, 23 November 2011 (IRIN) - Independent media continues to function in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, despite the killing of two journalists since the beginning of the year and the exile of 50 others after receiving death threats. Ten radio stations and a TV station operate in the city, officials said.

 "Seven independent radio stations closed due to lack of staff or were taken over by the fighting groups; the fact that the remaining stations are still operational is a miracle," Mohamed Lajiifiyaana Banaan, a journalist in Mogadishu told IRIN, on World Impunity Day, 23 November.

 Burhan Dini Farah, a radio journalist, said: "I have not seen my family in the last 10 months because of threats against my life. It is difficult to know who the enemy is. You get a phone call or a message telling you 'we know where you work and live' and that is it."

 Farah said he slept in the office on some days and on other days with friends. "I have to constantly be on the move and never use the same route twice."

 He said since 2006, he had lost 10 friends and colleagues. "Their only crime was covering the story."

 Farah was once introduced to two young men sent to kill him. "They were very open about it and told me that I was a target but now they were no longer interested in me."

 Not only radio reporters are targeted; even online reporters are affected, according to Mohamed Abdi, who contributes to a Somali website.

 "Somalis listen to a lot of radio but now they are also going on to the internet; this has created problems for people like me who used to hide behind the written word," Abdi said.

 He said warring parties in the country almost always knew who wrote what, adding: "This is Somalia - there are no secrets."

 Abdi said many of his colleagues had left the profession due to fear "but it is our livelihood; it is the only way I know to make a living".

 Mohamed Ali Aasbaro, an executive member of the National Union of Somali Journalists, told IRIN harassment and intimidation of journalists was a continuing thing in Mogadishu. "Each side wants to intimidate you to report what is favourable to them."

 Murders not investigated

 Aasbaro said Mogadishu had to be the most dangerous place to work.

 According to the 2011 Committee to Protect Journalists' Impunity Index, only Iraq ranks higher on a list of countries where murders of media professionals are frequent and not investigated.

 Aasbaro said: "Not one person has ever been arrested or convicted for killing or threatening a journalist."

 He said people who thought they could persuade journalists to side with them were wrong. "We are not on anyone's side; we will continue to tell the story of Somalia and Somalis, the good and the bad."

 A civil society activist, who requested anonymity, said both sides in the conflict - the government and the insurgents - were guilty of harassing and intimidating journalists. "But the killing is one-sided; Al-Shabab is the one group that has made a point of targeting journalists and killing them."

 He said the government would usually "arrest or close down a radio station but we have no record so far of a journalist killed by them. It is futile to target journalists. You kill one or chase him or her; another one will fill the vacuum."

 He said the aim of the fighting groups was to silence journalists and make sure their crimes were not recorded and used against them in future.

 "The first reports of famine came because of Somali journalists in places where they would surely have been killed if those running [the area] knew they did it," Aasbaro said, adding that "without them, the story of the famine victims would never have been known or if it came out it would have been too late for many".

 ah/mw

[END]

SENIOR UN OFFICIAL ISSUES WARNING ON LIST OF WORLD’S INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

SENIOR UN OFFICIAL ISSUES WARNING ON LIST OF WORLD'S INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE
New York, Nov 22 2011  7:10PM
The United Nations-managed<"http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?lg=en&pg=00011"> Intangible Heritage List shines a spotlight on the vast range of global traditions – from Korean dance to French gastronomy to Costa Rican ox-herding – but risks becoming a victim of its own success, a senior United Nations official warned today.

"Intangible cultural heritage is our bridge from the past to the future," <"http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/director_general_cautions_against_excess_number_of_nominations_at_opening_of_intangible_heritage_committee_in_bali/">said Irina Bokova, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), speaking at the opening ceremony of the Sixth Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage, held in Bali, Indonesia.

"It is the precious possession of communities, groups and individuals – only they can safeguard it and pass it on to generations to come," she said, further noting that UNESCO and Member States should support all cultural preservation efforts "in every way we can."

Seventy-nine nominations will be examined during the present session, including saman dance from Indonesia, fado music from Portugal and mariachi music from Mexico. Mali, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire have presented a joint nomination for the balafon – an instrument prominent among their Senufo communities.

"This is an unmanageable workload," Ms. Bokova said, "and is, inevitably, unsatisfactory for States Parties and the communities whose intangible heritage is concerned. They will be disappointed if the Convention is unable to meet their expectations."

"States must now show restraint and everybody must understand that the system has reached, or even gone beyond, its own limits. A maximum of about 60 nominations only could be treated in each session under the present conditions," she added, arguing that the inscriptions also had to be more geographically diverse for the List to remain credible.

Since its creation in 2008, the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List includes a swathe of global cultural expressions, ranging from Turkey's Kirkpinar oil wrestling festival and the Mediterranean diet to the watertight-bulkhead technology of Chinese junks and the Peruvian scissor dance.

Meanwhile, while visiting Indonesia, Ms. Bokova met with the country's Minister of Education and Culture Mohammad Nuh, who announced that his Government would contribute $10 million to help support UNESCO's activities and cover its recent budget shortfall.

Ms. Bokova thanked Mr. Nuh, describing the contribution as being "significant and timely."

The United States – which contributes 22 per cent of UNESCO's budget – suspended its dues after the agency admitted Palestine as a full member on 31 October.

MIDDLE EAST TENSIONS MUST BE DE-ESCALATED, BAN STRESSES TO ISRAELI LEADER

MIDDLE EAST TENSIONS MUST BE DE-ESCALATED, BAN STRESSES TO ISRAELI LEADER
New York, Nov 22 2011  7:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed today the need to de-escalate the current tensions in the Middle East so that direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians can resume as soon as possible.

Speaking by telephone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr. Ban appealed to him to immediately resume the transfer of Palestinian tax and customs revenues, in line with Israel's legal obligations, according to <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=2097">information provided by the Secretary-General's spokesperson.

The conversation took place a day after Robert Serry, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, told the Security Council that Israel and the Palestinians must refrain from provocations and submit concrete proposals to try to revive the stalled peace process.

In his conversation with Mr. Netanyahu, Mr. Ban also expressed his deep concern about Israel's announcement of further settlement expansions, including in East Jerusalem, which he noted undermine current peace efforts and violate international law.

But the Secretary-General welcomed Israel's approval of $5.5 million in new UN construction projects in the Gaza Strip, while calling for further measures towards lifting the closure of Gaza, in line with an earlier Security Council resolution.

ETHIOPIA: Abdirizak Mohamed Mohamoud, "Even if I got a visa for Europe.I wouldn't go"

ETHIOPIA: Abdirizak Mohamed Mohamoud, "Even if I got a visa for Europe.I wouldn't go"

JIJIGA, 22 November 2011 (IRIN) - Abdirizak Mohamed Mohamoud, 30, returned to his home village of Lafaisa, in the Jijiga zone of eastern Ethiopia, six months ago, after his attempt to reach Europe and a better life turned into an ordeal. He talked to IRIN, as well as a roomful of curious neighbours and friends, about his experiences as a migrant in Libya.

 "I wasn't satisfied with life here. I was a teacher, but I wasn't earning enough to support my family. I had friends who had gone to Libya and then to Italy, but I only got as far as Libya.

 "I crossed the border of Ethiopia into Sudan; then I crossed the Sahara in a lorry with 160 other people. All of the others were from Somalia - I was the only Ethiopian. One lorry broke down, then another came and took us the rest of the way.

 "I paid the driver US$1,000 - money I got from all of my family and friends - but when we arrived in Libya, the driver wanted another $1,200 and held all of us hostage in his home on a big farm for two days.

 "He gave me a cell phone and told me to call my family to get the money. He only got money from 10 individuals, even though he tortured us with electric shocks. I told my mother to send money but before it came, the Libyan police came and arrested all of us, including the driver.

 "We were taken to a prison in Benghazi where there were about 900 Africans - Nigerians, Somalis, Eritreans and Congolese. After three months we thought we were going to die there. Some were tortured and some tried to kill themselves. We broke out by force, overwhelming the guards, and escaped, but some local people caught me and returned me to the jail. I spent one more month there before they transferred me to a Tripoli prison, where I spent two months.

 "Then they transferred me again to a place called Katron, near the border with Niger, in the Sahara. I was there for a month with 320 Somali people before we escaped again. I found some people from Chad in Katron and stayed with them for 15 days and called my family to send money. My brother sent $300 to someone he knows in Tripoli, but that money paid only for me to be smuggled from Katron to Tripoli.

 "I worked as a porter in Tripoli for 18 months, just to save money to get home. I couldn't sleep at night because I was so afraid of being robbed; the only safe place to sleep was on graves. I managed to save $700 and pooled my savings with 14 friends to pay a smuggler to take us through Niger and into Chad. We left just before the uprising [in Libya] started.

 "In Chad, people were dying of hunger and UNHCR [the UN Refugee Agency] refused to help us because they were busy helping the local people who were starving. We went on to Darfur in Sudan and UNHCR flew us to Khartoum and then to the Ethiopian border. I was very happy to get home after two years and two months.

 "By the time I got back, one of my sisters had already left for Saudi [Arabia] to work as a housemaid. If I had got back in time, I would have told her not to go.

 "I'm an example for my village - if I had succeeded, all the others would have gone. I don't have a job now, I'm surviving by Allah, but even if I got a visa for Europe or the United States, I wouldn't go - I'm dying here."

 ks/he[END]

MORE THAN A MILLION ZIMBABWEANS FACING FOOD STRUGGLE, UN AGENCY WARNS

MORE THAN A MILLION ZIMBABWEANS FACING FOOD STRUGGLE, UN AGENCY WARNS
New York, Nov 21 2011  5:10PM
More than one million Zimbabweans will struggle for food between now and March, according to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), which has already begun assisting the most vulnerable but needs $42 million to fund its activities in the Southern African nation.

Failed harvests and the economic downturn have led to a situation where around 12 per cent of the rural population will not have the means to feed themselves adequately during what is known as the lean season.

This is despite improvements in the food security situation in recent years, the agency noted in a news release issued today.

Most of the vulnerable households are located in the southern and western regions, which are very susceptible to dry spells.

"Agricultural production in these regions was once again poor this season," <"http://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/wfp-seeks-us42-million-more-million-zimbabweans-struggle-food-0">said WFP Country Director Felix Bamezon. "The situation is made worse by the economic downturn and we're already seeing families resorting to skipping meals and reducing portion sizes."

Most at risk are low-income families hit by failed harvests, and households with orphans and vulnerable children.

"Although food is generally available in many rural areas, it is too expensive for those with limited resources," WFP said.

The agency and its partners have started providing targeted assistance to bridge the lean season gap through in-kind food distributions, cash transfers and food vouchers.

WFP has secured funds to launch the response, but needs additional funds to keep it going. Its Health & Nutrition Programme, geared towards malnourished, chronically-ill people on anti-retroviral treatment and their households, is also facing a funding shortfall.

Somaliland: Ministry of Higher Education Launches Free Education for low income female

Somaliland: Ministry of Higher Education Launches Free Education for low income female

HARGEISA(Somalilandpress)-Somaliland Ministry of Higher Education launches free education for low income female students whose parents cannot afford the small tuition fee. This program which is funded by the European Union (EU) and UNICEF is expected to increase the number of young girls attending schools in the country.

According to the ministry of education Ms. Samsam Abdi Adan the program will begin at the end of this month and also that her ministry will oversee the implementation of the project. Ms. Adan disclose this new initiative at a press conference that she held at her office as she said "we inform the public at large that there is an educational opportunity for all girls in Somaliland regardless of family income, the European Union funded the project and UNICEF had facilitate in finding funds for the project from EU.

The scholarship will support young girls who cannot pay their school fees during these difficult economic times that Somaliland citizens are facing, female students are encouraged to submit application to their regional education offices in Somaliland in order to take advantage of this opportunity. She added that all regions in Somaliland will benefit from this wonderful opportunity and will pave the way for underprivileged families. Today's announcement from the Minister of Education is seen as positive news as most Somaliland parents are not able to pay the minimum fee required each student to pay during the school year.

Somalilandpress | 21 November 2011

SOMALIA: UN ENVOY URGES CONCERTED GLOBAL SUPPORT FOR EFFORTS TO RESTORE STABILITY

SOMALIA: UN ENVOY URGES CONCERTED GLOBAL SUPPORT FOR EFFORTS TO RESTORE STABILITY

The United Nations envoy for Somalia today emphasized the importance of the roadmap adopted in September setting out a series of tasks to be completed ahead of concluding the country's political transition process, and called for coordinated international efforts to ensure the implementation of the plan.

"It is critical that the entire donor community understand the centrality of the roadmap to the political process and support its implementation with the necessary resources," said Augustine Mahiga, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia, writing in the regional weekly, <i>The EastAfrican</i>.

The roadmap spells out priority measures to be implemented before the current transitional governing arrangements end next August, in the areas of security, the drafting of a new constitution, reconciliation and laying the foundation for good governance.

Mr. Mahiga stressed that Somali leaders must be made to understand that future assistance will depend on their willingness to play their role in the implementation of the roadmap.

The political developments in Somalia are underpinned by a major improvement of security, especially since August, when the insurgents of Al Shabaab were forced to withdraw from the capital, Mogadishu, under pressure from forces supporting the transitional Government and the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Mr. Mahiga wrote.

"This is a remarkable achievement and has led to roads being repaired, homes rebuilt and markets reopening. If Somalia – and indeed the international community – is to capitalize on these gains, and at the same time address the emerging challenges, then boosting AMISOM's capabilities, especially in the areas of personnel, logistics, mobility, intelligence, aviation and disposal of unexploded ordnance, will be critical."

A stabilization plan for Mogadishu addresses key reconstruction issues that will be critical to ensuring "political buy-in" from ordinary Somalis, Mr. Mahiga said.

Kenya's decision last month to send its armed forces into Somalia to confront Al Shabaab militants is a demonstration of the importance the region attaches to Somalia's instability and the broader risk of regional insecurity if the insurgency is not contained, he stated.

"Somalia remains the most challenging issues on the international community's radar. One thing is certain – only sustained engagement by all stakeholders at the local, regional and international levels will ensure that this rare moment is fully exploited," wrote Mr. Mahiga.

Press Release: Somaliland children join the rest of the world to commemorate the Universal Children’s Day.

Press Release: Somaliland children join the rest of the world to commemorate the Universal Children's Day.

 

Today is 20^th November 2011. It is Universal children's day. Children in Somaliland are celebrating the Universal children's day like many other children around the globe are doing.

Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MOLSA) on behalf of Somaliland government in cooperation with other governmental institutions, local and international organizations would like to join the rest of the globe to commemorate this important event.  

As we commemorate this important occasion of the adoption of the UNCRC by the UN General Assembly, we should be cognizant of the fact that as an un recognized state internationally, Somaliland children are still in a situation of rights "limbo" as they lack access to an international system that can promote and protect their rights and hold their nation states to account; to a system that will support their rights.

Because of this existence without international recognition from rest of the world for over 20 years, the Somaliland central government suffers from disintegration, denial of international donors and marginalized economic transactions, having a negative toll on the local tax payer.

Children have had their share of this disadvantaged position as they are the most vulnerable categories who have been adversely affected by the impact of lack of international recognition with regard to the promotion, protection and fulfillment of their rights.  

Despite this lack of international recognition, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MOLSA) and the Government of Somaliland generally is committed to establish and strengthen national and community based Child protection systems and structures including but not limited to developing policies and legislations in line with the UNCRC and to prevent, respond and protect children from all sorts of abuse, neglect and violence.

As we commemorate this day, it is important to note that although many children in Somaliland experience adverse circumstances, many do defer in vulnerability.  The most disadvantage groups are including those children from lower social- economic status, and those children with special needs including orphans and other vulnerable children, stateless children, children living on the streets, children conflict with the law, children from Ethnic minority groups, children without care givers, abused children, trafficked children, , Children affected and infected with HIV/AIDs among  others.  

As Government is cognizant of the fact that the rights of the children as stipulated in the UNCRC need to be fulfilled, it is also equally important to note that they cannot be realized all at once. The Republic of Somaliland is committed to ensure the progressive realization of the children's rights.

 We are further committed to ensuring that there is Compatibility of existing legislations with the UNCRC by harmonization of domestic laws with the UNCRC and removing all misinterpretations, inconsistencies and confusions emanating from having three different sets of laws through legal review and reform.

 

To achieve the above, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs would like to call upon the international community to support the cause of children in Somaliland to benefit from an international system that  will support their rights, promote and protect their rights and hold their nation states to account.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Abdi Abdillahi Hassan( Mataan),

Director of  Department Social Affairs by Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs

 

Syria's Assad vows to continue crackdown - paper

Syria's Assad vows to continue crackdown - paper

LONDON Nov 19 (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said the crackdown on dissidents in his country would continue in the face of pressure from the Arab League for his government to take action to end the bloodshed, according to an interview published late on Saturday.

"The conflict will continue and the pressure to subjugate Syria will continue," he told Britain's Sunday Times newspaper. "Syria will not bow down."

He again repeated his assertion that any military action taken against Syria would create an "earthquake" across the Middle East.

"If they are logical, rational and realistic, they shouldn't do it because the repercussions are very dire. Military intervention will destabilise the region as a whole, and all countries will be affected," he said. (Reporting by Michael Holden)

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) donates equipment to Hargeisa

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) donates equipment to Hargeisa

Hargeisa (Somalilandpress)-United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) today donates equipment to doctors and patients in Hargeisa TB hospital. Ceremony held at Meeting Hall of hospital was attended by the General Director of Somaliland ministry of Health Dr. Abdi Guray , UNIDO program field coordinator Eng. Hasan colaad Adan,Dr. John Kiyaga who is UNDP officer, official from non-governmental oragization by the name of Havoyoco Mr. Mohamed Omar Qadaafi and General Director of TB hospital Dr. Osman.First, UNIDO program field coordinator Eng. Hasan Colaad Adan spoke at the well-organized ceremony and he told that the project has been facilitated by the government of Japan and did everything it can to invest the project.

He added that this UNIDO program will be of great help to the community after UNIDO assisted the project technically.He further went on by saying that UNIDO has close working relations with Havoyoco which has the role of implementing the project.Eng. Colaad mentioned that the project had two advantages. The first is that UNIDO created opportunity by providing training to students and the second is that the students produced equipment will be of great help to doctors and patients in Hargeisa tB hospital.The General Director of Somaliland Health Ministry Dr. Ali Guray who spoke at the ceremony expressed his thanks both to UNIDO which made the project to bear fruit and Havoyoco in which he said that it is the most active local youth organization engaged in development projects in the country.
He also thanked the government of Japan which supported UNIDO for receiving the funds.

Dr. John Kiyaga who is UNDP officer praised UNIDO's accomplishment for the short spell that it has been working in Somaliland.He also expressed thanks greatly to the government of Somaliland. Dr. Osman Abdi Maygaag who is the General Director of the hospital spoke at the ceremony and thanked UNIDO and Havoyoco for making the project possible. He further added that this will be of great assistance when it comes to the needs in the hospital.

UN REPORTS THREE AREAS IN SOMALIA HAVE EMERGED FROM FAMINE

UN REPORTS THREE AREAS IN SOMALIA HAVE EMERGED FROM FAMINE

The United Nations reported today that three areas in Somalia which were declared to be in a state of famine earlier this year have emerged from the dire food crisis as a result of scaled-up relief delivery, but warned that the situation remains critical for millions of people in the Horn of Africa country.

The UN Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit for Somalia said that the situation had improved in the affected areas in the southern regions of Bay, Bakool and Lower Shabelle and they were no longer famine zones.

However, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Mark Bowden, said that famine persists in parts of the Middle Shabelle and in the Afgooye corridor, near the capital, Mogadishu, which hosts a large number of internally displaces persons (IDPs).

Valerie Amos, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said in a statement that "progress is fragile and needs to be sustained."

"While humanitarian agencies have helped bring food, nutrition, water and sanitation help to millions of people in the last few months, I remain extremely concerned by the critical situation in Mogadishu and other parts of south and central Somalia," said Ms. Amos, who is also the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator.

Insecurity, looting and other forms of violence, high malnutrition rates and disease means that the humanitarian community needs to remain focused on the best ways to scale up the relief effort next year, she said.

"We need the international community to continue to generously support the vital work we and our partners are doing.

"We need to make sure that those most in need get help and we must also continue to look at ways of building the resilience of communities and families so that they are better equipped to deal with the impact of drought and extreme food insecurity in the future," she added.

A severe drought ravaged the Horn of Africa earlier this year causing food shortages that claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people in Somalia and brought more than 3.2 million others on the brink of starvation.

A significant scale-up of relief efforts helped reach 2.2 million affected people, giving them access to food and water.

Britain likely to follow providing African nations take the lead on Recognition

London (Somalilandpress)- Somaliland President Mr. Ahmed Mohamoud Siilaanyo who is special visit to Britain held high level meeting with Minister- in-charge of African Affairs to the British Government Mr. Henry Bellingham. Sources report that both men met in London and had lengthy discussions concerning a number of regional issues as well as further co-operation.

Speaking to certain representatives of the media President Siilaanyo said that while he was on an informal visit to Britain and that he had initiated the meeting as he feels it is essential to develop bilateral relations between Somaliland and Britain. Mr Bellingham also spoke to the media about the discussion that the two sides had and that primarily their discussion focused on the region of the horn of Africa, security and the aid that the British Government provides to Somaliland.

Whilst the talks were believed to have been cordial, in private the British Government has made its position concerning the issue of recognition, whilst in principal it supports the aspiration, it would prefer one or more African nations to recognise Somaliland first, then it would use its influence in the European Union and elsewhere to affect a positive response. It is believed that some officials in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London are all for maintaining the status quo for fear of irritating the African Union and there has even been some talk of some Foreign Office Officials thwarting any moves towards a more enlightened and pragmatic approach to the whole recognition issue.

AFRICA: Sub-Saharan sanitation targets "two centuries away"

AFRICA: Sub-Saharan sanitation targets "two centuries away"

LONDON, 18 November 2011 (IRIN) - It will take two centuries for sub-Saharan Africa to meet the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) to reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation, according to NGO WaterAid, which calls on national leaders to commit 3.5 percent of their annual budget to the sector. [http://www.wateraid.org/ ]

 Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) are being sidelined as governments concentrate on health and education, says the WaterAid report. Meanwhile, people's lack of access to clean water and basic sanitation services is holding back social and economic development in the region, costing around 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) every year.

 Loss higher than development aid

 Inadequate WASH services cost sub-Saharan Africa more than the whole continent receives in development aid - US$47.6 billion in 2009 - according to WaterAid.

 The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated the financial impact of inadequate WASH facilities by looking at the health issues linked to poor hygiene, child mortality, waterborne tropical diseases, the time people spend collecting water; and reductions in educational achievement due to illness and girls' attendance rates at schools.

 "Diarrhoea, 90 percent of which is attributable to inadequate sanitation and dirty water, is the single biggest killer of children in Africa, and yet sanitation targets are off-track," Tom Slaymaker, one of the report's authors, told IRIN.

 Every day, 2,000 children die from diarrhoea in sub-Saharan Africa. Four out of 10 people do not have access to safe water, while seven out of 10 do not have appropriate sanitation facilities.

 The disparity between rich and poor is stark. Poor people in sub-Saharan Africa are more than 15 times more likely to practice open defecation due to inadequate or poorly maintained toilets.

 "Unless this changes, we won't see educational progress and it will hold back progress on child health. If you look at development in industrialized countries, sanitation has been key to enabling economic growth and achieving acceptable living standards," said Slaymaker.

 Ministries not powerful

 Progress has been slow partly because WASH is not "sexy", he commented. "On one level it's just a question of political will. Sanitation is not a sexy topic - politicians much prefer to say they're opening a hospital or school, rather than building some toilets."

 Most policy-makers in charge of WASH "have access to clean water and good sanitation, so they may not be motivated to address it in a distant rural part of the country," said WaterAid senior policy analyst John Garret.

 Slaymaker noted that "The water ministry is generally less powerful relative to the education and health ministries - which [tend to] have more civil servants and more leverage with the ministry of finance during and after the budget process - [so] in the scramble for funds, the water ministry and sanitation organizations lose out. This all contributes to the sector being a low priority."

 Water and sanitation is not an easy sector to reform, given it is usually spread across different ministries, and there is often "no single unified voice in the national budget process for sanitation", he added.

 "Last chance"

 WaterAid calls on donors to double the global aid flow to WASH with an additional $10 billion per year in the run-up to 2015, the deadline for achieving the MDGs.

 African governments need to commit at least 3.5 percent of GDP to sanitation and water to get back on track, Slaymaker told IRIN. Only Lesotho, Kenya, Niger and Tanzania are currently spending more than 0.9 percent of GDP on WASH. In Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Madagascar, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia, the most recent expenditure figures fall well below the original 2009 commitment of 0.5 percent of GDP.

 "Despite all the political commitments, we haven't seen the finances to back it up," Slaymaker told IRIN. African heads of state met in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, earlier in 2011, and although many of their governments had made a commitment in 2009 to spend 0.5 percent of the annual budget on sanitation, "only one or two countries. realized that," he said.

 Despite this challenge, Slaymaker still thinks the MDG goal can be met if politicians drastically change course. "This is the last chance to make an effort to get back on track," he told IRIN. "It's a question of. concerted partnership between donors, governments and the private sector. What's lacking at the moment is that concerted drive."

 jl/aj/he


 FACT BOX

 Over one billion people will miss the global MDG sanitation target if things continue unchanged

 In Asia, India will not reach its MDG on sanitation before 2047, while Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal will not achieve the target before 2028.

 Lack of access to water and sanitation costs African and Asian countries up to 6 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) each year.

 In India the shortfall in water and sanitation services cost the economy around 6.4 percent of GDP - the equivalent of US$53.8 billion in 2006, according to the World Bank.

 In Ethiopia, 193,000 deaths per year are WASH-related, and 71.4 million people have no access to sanitation facilities.

 Similar figures apply to Mali, Niger, Benin, Ghana and Congo, where 194,000 deaths a year are WASH-related and 49.5 million people have no access to sanitation facilities.

 According to WaterAid, the Côte d'Ivoire administration targeted 0.06 percent of its GDP to water and sanitation, Ghana spent 0.29 percent, Liberia 0.28 percent, Madagascar 0.28 percent, Nigeria 0.18 percent, Uganda 0.41 percent and Zambia 0.56 percent.

 (Sources: World Bank; WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, 2010; national government documents 2008-2010; WaterAid)

Wasiirka Caafimaadka Iyo Dhakhaatiirtii Ay Kulmiye Wada Ahaayeen Oo La Sheegay In.....

Wasiirka Caafimaadka Iyo Dhakhaatiirtii Ay Kulmiye Wada Ahaayeen Oo La Sheegay In Khilaaf Culusi Ka Dhex Qarxay

Wasiirka Ayaa Nin Ay Isku Jifo Hoose Yihiin U Magacaabay Isku Duwaha Maroodi Jeex

Hargeysa  (HAATUF) - Wasiirka Caafimaadka Dr Xuseen Muxumed Axmed (Xuseen Xoog) ayaa shalay si rasmiya xilkii uga qaaday isku duwihii wasaarada caafimaadka ee gobolka maroodi jeex Dr Axmed Maxamed Gaas, isla markaana ugu magacaabay jagadaasi wasiir ku xigeenkii hore ee arrimaha gudaha ee xukuumadii Rayaale Axmed Xasan Goole, oo la sheegay inay isku jifo hoose yihiin.

Isuduwihii hore ee caafimaadka gobolka maroodi jeex Dr Axmed Maxamed Gaas oo isagu ka mid ahaa dhakhaatiirtii waaweynayd ee Dr Xuseen Xoog ay wada taageeri jireen xisbiga Kulmiye xilligii xukuumadii hore, ayaa noo xaqiijiyay in warqadii xil ka qaadistiisa ay shalay soo gaadhay, balse ka gaabsaday inuu wax faahfaahina ka bixiyo asbaabta keentay xil ka qaadistiisa xilligan, hase yeeshee ilo wareedyo ka agdhaw wasaarada Caafimaadka ayaa Haatuf u sheegay in asbaabta xil ka qaadista isuduwaha hore ay ka dhalatay khilaaf cakiran oo muddooyinkan dambe ka dhex oogmay wasiirka iyo dhakhaatiirtii waaweynayd ee wasaaradaasi ka hawl gali jiray, kadib markii la sheegay inay saluug ka muujiyeen habdhaqanka maamul ee wasiir xoog ku maamulayo wasaaradaasi, taas darteedna wasiirku cadho wayn ka qaaday ka hor imaanshaha iyo afkaarta ay soo jeedinayaan dhakhaatiirtaasi, oo ay xilligii Kulmiye saaxiibo dhaw ahaayeen.

 Masuulkan ayaa noqonaya dhakhtarkii labaad ee wasiir xuseen xoog shaqada ka fadhiisiyo, iyadoo dhawaan uu sidoo kale xilkii ka qaaday agaasimihii hore ee Cusbitaalka guud ee Hargeysa Dr Maxamed Axmed Carabayte, oo isaguna ka mid ahaa dhakhaatiirtii xisbiga Kulmiye ay ka wada tirsanaayeen, kaas oo khilaaf maamul oo ka dhashay dhaqaale lagu kicinayay mishiinada kalyaha ee Cusbitaalka Hargeysa loogu talo galay ka shaqaysiintiisa, ay wasiir ku xigeenka Caafimaadka Nimco Xuseen Qawdhan ka dalbatay inuu ku soo wareejiyo qasnajiga Cusbitaalka, taas darteedna wasiirku xilkii kaga qaaday Dr carabayte.

Talaabooyinkan uu xilka kaga qaaday dhakhaatiirtaasi xilalka ka hayay wasaarada ayaa la sheegay inay khilaaf cakiran ka dhex abuureen wasiirka iyo dhakhaatiirta ka hawlgasha wasaaradaasi.

 Haatuf

SOMALIA: Looters sabotage aid efforts in Mogadishu

SOMALIA: Looters sabotage aid efforts in Mogadishu

NAIROBI, 17 November 2011 (IRIN) - The frequent looting of relief aid at distribution centres in Mogadishu by local or state security agents seriously undermines efforts to help hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom have fled areas of Somalia in a state of famine, according to officials and aid workers.

 "Looting of aid is a major problem, especially as it affects the most vulnerable families in Mogadishu, who rely on humanitarian support to survive," said Marcel Stoessel, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Mogadishu.

 "We have been working with the authorities in Mogadishu to improve the overall security situation in the capital. This is the best way to facilitate the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable," Stoessel said. "Obviously, we still need to do more."

 Stoessel did not discuss who was behind the looting but the government has acknowledged the involvement of its own agents.

 Earlier this month, Transitional Federal Government (TFG) President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed warned that "soldiers and armed militia" would be dealt with severely if found to be responsible for looting food aid.

 Security agents deployed in Mogadishu include TFG soldiers, poorly paid police and militias under the authority of the city's district commissioners. After the August withdrawal from Mogadishu of the Al-Shabab insurgency, such militia groups have grown in importance.

 TFG spokesman Abdirahman Omar Yarisow told IRIN the government was serious about tackling the disruption of food aid.

 "We have taken extreme measures, such as taking to military court those who try to divert the food aid to loot it. For example, recently the military court sentenced two district commissioners to 10 and 15 years' imprisonment [respectively]," he said.

 He acknowledged that people had been killed and injured when security forces opened fire during food distributions. "This is not acceptable and there are investigations currently under way and those who are responsible will face severe punishment."

 In one such incident in early August, 10 people were reportedly killed when TFG troops opened fire during a scramble for food aid in the capital.

 Looting "is becoming a daily occurrence and it is mainly done by people wearing government security force uniforms", said Mohamed Ilmi, a human rights activist in Mogadishu.

 In one of the latest incidents [14 November] in the Tribunka camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs), Ilmi said, government forces who were supposed to protect aid distribution fired into the crowd, forcing them to run for cover, "they then took the food; fortunately there was only one injury".

 Ilmi said on many occasions IDPs had been killed, "as happened in Badbaado camp a few days ago, where at least five were killed".

 "Big business"

 He said the attacks bore the hallmark of an organized enterprise. "As soon as they chase the people, trucks come in to carry the loot and the food immediately ends up in the markets. It is as if they were hired to do it."

 He said looting of aid meant for the displaced was becoming a "big business".

 A civil society source, who requested anonymity, told IRIN the problem was that the government did not have much control over the "so-called security forces".

 The source said since Al-Shabab's withdrawal, "young men with guns are roaming the streets. No one knows who they are or under whose control.

 "Until the government removes the weapons from the hands of these young gangs, the situation will only get worse," the source said.

 "Unfortunately they seem busy with other things, but if they don't get the security situation right, it won't be the IDPs alone who will suffer but all of us, including them."

 Rape on the increase

 According to Ilmi, the attacks were not confined to food raids. "There is a climate of fear in the camps and it has to do with women being raped and again unfortunately it is mostly men with uniforms," he said.

 Ilmi said rape in the IDP camps was rampant. "I don't know of many people who have been arrested for it."

 He expressed concern about the lack of accurate information. "The women won't report it because either they are afraid of being stigmatized or attacked again by the perpetrators," Ilmi said.

 He said social workers who tried to collect data were sometimes threatened or even attacked. "You cannot and won't find accurate data but I am sure the numbers are huge."

 The civil society source told IRIN that rape had been a problem before in Mogadishu "but it has now reached an alarming rate. There are reports of rape cases in almost all the camps in Mogadishu."

 According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), there are 300 IDP settlements in Mogadishu.

 ah/am/mw

[END]

Ethiopia overwhelm Somalian

Ethiopia overwhelm Somalians

(AFP) – 16 hours ago  

ADDIS ABABA — Somalia's national football team, the Ocean Stars, suffered a crushing 5-0 defeat at the hands of Ethiopia here on Wednesday in their World Cup qualifier second leg match ending Somalian hopes of reaching the 2014 finals.

Ethiopia progressed 5-0 on aggregate after the first leg played in Djibouti last weekend ended 0-0.

Shemeles Bekele and Getaneh Kebede both scored doubles in the second-half after Omod Okwury had given them the lead in the fifth minute.

Somalia struggled to keep up with the Ethiopian players, who dominated control of the ball throughout the game and powered through a weak Somali defence.

"The way we played in Djibouti, we didn't play like that today. We tried to do something here, but we didn't get what we wanted from Addis," said Ocean Stars technical advisor Abdirashid Oman.

Ethiopia's head coach Sewnet Bishaw said Somalia's main disadvantage was the altitude, which Somali players are not accustomed to competing in. Addis Ababa stands at 2,400 metres above sea level.

"Every team is affected by the altitude, and this is our advantage," Sewnet told reporters after the match.

Ethiopia's national stadium was full of exuberant fans cheering excitedly for both teams, though Ethiopian supporters far outnumbered the Somalis in the stands.

This is only Somali's fourth time reaching the qualifying stage in the team's 60 year history.

That was an achievement in itself given it has been racked by two decades of civil war, and multiple governments have failed to create stability in the Horn of Africa nation, let alone form a competitive football team.

Famine has been declared in several areas of southern Somalia, while last month Kenyan troops moved across the border to battle Islamist rebels there.