The current violence and disorder in Somalia, particularly in the capital city of Mogadishu, has brought to a halt the humanitarian interventions for the victims. Abdullahi Yusuf, President of Transitional National Government, is unable to bring peace and stop civilian deaths and suffering caused mainly by his militia – a more accurate title since there are no Somali national defense and police departments - and the Ethiopian army.
The extent to which Ethiopian army and orders from President Yusuf killed civilians and destroyed entire neighborhoods have been well documented in the August 2007 report by Human Rights Watch.
The excerpts of the report include:
“Ethiopian forces used sustained rocket bombardment and shelling of entire neighborhoods as their main strategy to dislodge the mobile insurgency and then occupy strategic locations. Hundreds of civilians died trying to flee or while trapped in their homes as the rockets and shells landed. Tens of thousands of people fled the city.”
If President Yusuf and his Ethiopian troops are conducting war crimes, as
the HRW report indicates, why would they care about the injured and severely malnourished children. In fact, according to Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF), over 30, 000 people have fled to the outskirts of Mogadishu since July 2007 – less than two months – and doctors and aid agencies are unable to reach people who are trapped in the city. And they have received no help from Abdullahi Yusuf’s government to provide a sorely needed help to people.
The President of MSF International, Christophe Fournier told reporters,
“With bombings and shootings nearly daily in Mogadishu, people in need of medical care are terrified to leave their homes, medical personnel are fleeing the city, and hospitals are closed or barely functioning."
The current situation is so dire that the individuals most affected by the violence and indiscriminate shelling of Ethiopian and President Yusuf’s militia are children, women, and the weak. To make it worst, once the people get to outskirts of Mogadishu, basic and essential services, such as water, food, shelter, and health care, are nearly absent.
Consequently, approximately 40% of children are suffering from severe malnutrition and are at risk of dying. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines severe malnutrition as a very low weight for height or less than 70% of expected weight. It is worth noting that the World Health Organization estimates that 30-50% of children suffering from severe malnutrition are likely to die, a mortality rate that has not changed over the last 50 years throughout the world. Even in the best of care, only 5% of these children can be saved from avoidable deaths. If a child survives, his or her cognitive and physical developments are permanently damaged.
Eyes on Somalia recommends that;
The extent to which Ethiopian army and orders from President Yusuf killed civilians and destroyed entire neighborhoods have been well documented in the August 2007 report by Human Rights Watch. The excerpts of the report include:
“Ethiopian forces used sustained rocket bombardment and shelling of entire neighborhoods as their main strategy to dislodge the mobile insurgency and then occupy strategic locations. Hundreds of civilians died trying to flee or while trapped in their homes as the rockets and shells landed. Tens of thousands of people fled the city.”
If President Yusuf and his Ethiopian troops are conducting war crimes, as
the HRW report indicates, why would they care about the injured and severely malnourished children. In fact, according to Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF), over 30, 000 people have fled to the outskirts of Mogadishu since July 2007 – less than two months – and doctors and aid agencies are unable to reach people who are trapped in the city. And they have received no help from Abdullahi Yusuf’s government to provide a sorely needed help to people.The President of MSF International, Christophe Fournier told reporters,
“With bombings and shootings nearly daily in Mogadishu, people in need of medical care are terrified to leave their homes, medical personnel are fleeing the city, and hospitals are closed or barely functioning."
The current situation is so dire that the individuals most affected by the violence and indiscriminate shelling of Ethiopian and President Yusuf’s militia are children, women, and the weak. To make it worst, once the people get to outskirts of Mogadishu, basic and essential services, such as water, food, shelter, and health care, are nearly absent.
Consequently, approximately 40% of children are suffering from severe malnutrition and are at risk of dying. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines severe malnutrition as a very low weight for height or less than 70% of expected weight. It is worth noting that the World Health Organization estimates that 30-50% of children suffering from severe malnutrition are likely to die, a mortality rate that has not changed over the last 50 years throughout the world. Even in the best of care, only 5% of these children can be saved from avoidable deaths. If a child survives, his or her cognitive and physical developments are permanently damaged.
Eyes on Somalia recommends that;
- President Yusuf and his militia, Ethiopian military, and insurgents cease the violence and provide access to aid agencies so they can reach the displaced and suffering people.
- Since President Yusuf is the leader of the nation, he should be held accountable for not supporting cease fire and the redeployment of Ethiopian troops.
How many more innocent civilians must die before we see an end to this state-sponsored torture, tyranny, and indiscriminate killing, to mention a few?
As always, we encourage our visitors to submit articles for publication or send us comments. You can reach us at: eyesonsomalinow@gmail.com.
2 comments:
President Abdullahi Yusuf is the first person in Somalia to bring Ethiopian army, a well-known hostile, to Somalia and its people in Ogaden, to kill, maim, and destroy Somalia with a tacit approval from the United States and many European Union members.
Ilaahay ayaan ka barinaa in ay dadkan wadanka baabi'iyey uu naga qabto.
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